Speculation mounts over recycling plant’s future

THERE is mounting speculation that the closure of a Lismore-based waste recycling company, which is being pursued through the courts by Waterford County Council, is imminent.

As tonnes of waste material continues to pile up on the premises of Sam Shire Recycling Ltd at Mayfield Road on the outskirts of the town, there are concerns locally about the public health risk it is presenting.

Health and Safety Authority officials have visited the site, and according to the mayor of Lismore, Bernard Leddy, they are deeply concerned about the current situation at the plant.

“The site is a time bomb,” the mayor said, “and the HSA fear that the rodent problem that exists there will get substantially worse with the approach of summer and will present a major health risk to people living in the vicinity of this plant.”

The company was set up in 1998 by English businessman Graeme Leek and operated originally from a small premises at Ballyrafter with just four employees. With business steadily expanding the company subsequently moved to its present location, and it seemed to have really taken off after landing a major recycling contract with Waterford County Council.

Employment numbers reached 28 and at one stage the workforce, including part-time employees, stood at 40. However, the loss of the county council contract marked a turning point for the company and it has been progressively downhill since.

There are presently just four people employed there, and it is reported that two of them have not been paid for a number of weeks. However, a company spokesman has told Waterford local radio that this matter will be immediately rectified.

The spokesman has also acknowledged that they have a number of disagreements with the county council.

The company’s waste permit expired over a month ago and has not since been renewed, and the council has now initiated court proceedings against the company in relation to a number of environmental related matters.

Local anger over the deteriorating state of the plant is spiralling by the day. Town councillor Jimmy O’Gorman has joined the mayor in voicing concerns about the risk to public health, and said the present “diabolical” situation cannot be allowed to continue as it is outraging the entire community.