Irish burn 60,000 tonnes of waste in backyards

HOUSEHOLDERS must realise that burning 60,000 tonnes of rubbish illegally in backyards can have more deadly health effects than incineration, an Oireachtas Committee heard yesterday.

Experts from local authorities yesterday briefed the Environment and Local Government Committee on measures to promote household recycling.

Cork City Council senior engineer Gerard Walsh detailed the hazards of backyard burning.

The Environment Department estimates that up to 60,000 tonnes of waste is being burned illegally in backyards every year.

Mr Walsh told the all-part body: “There is strenuous opposition to incineration but there is a major problem with backyard burning.”

Belgian firm Indaver has received planning permission and a licence for a hazardous waste incinerator in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.

Mr Walsh added: “It’s difficult to convince people that incineration is better than backyard burning.”

Speaking after the meeting, he explained that burning plastic can emit chemicals like benzine which can cause cancer as well as irritate respiratory systems.

Cork City Council’s recycling initiatives prevented 19,000 tonnes of waste going to landfill in 2005, the committee heard.

Committee members also called for greater supervision at recycling sites to prevent illegal dumping and vandalism.

Meath County Council senior executive officer Michael Griffin said it was difficult to persuade people to appear as witnesses in litter offence prosecutions.

“In many cases we have somebody who reports seeing somebody depositing litter but when we put it before the courts, at that stage people back off.”

Mr Walsh pointed out that a lack of paper recycling facilities in Ireland was wasteful and a lost business opportunity. Up to 60 containers of waste paper leave Cork Harbour every Friday for China, he explained.

“This could be dealt with there. It is a lot of waste.”

Committee members also urged newspaper firms to contribute towards the cost of recycling paper.