€46m Bottlehill superdump to remain closed

A DECISION to open a €46 million superdump has been deferred indefinitely because a local authority cannot afford to operate it unless there are changes in government waste policy.

The bad news for taxpayers is that while the site 22.5km north of Cork City remains idle, Cork County Council will have to make €3.5m annual repayments for a bank loan taken out to build the facility. In addition, maintenance and mandatory monitoring of the Bottlehill site will cost a further €170,000 per year.

County manager Martin Riordan said opening the landfill would only be viable if the council could be assured of taking in 150,000 tonnes of waste annually.