Poolbeg may take waste from all over country

MINISTER for the Environment Phil Hogan has refused to rule out the prospect of the planned Poolbeg incinerator taking waste from all over the country.

When asked by the Irish Examiner if he could stand over such a development, in a written response, Mr Hogan said: “Waste flows in relation to any given facility are a matter for the facility’s operators, provided that they operate within the terms of the law and the facility’s licence and other permits”.

If it is built, the Poolbeg waste-to-energy plant will require up to 320,000 tonnes of waste each year. It is believed the contract drawn up with Dublin City Council sets out fines of €180 million to €350m for taxpayers if sufficient waste is not sent to the facility.

Mr Hogan said the Government’s national waste policy, due to go to Cabinet next month, “will not be driven by any one group, project or technology”.

The Irish Examiner reported last week that Ireland has not had a clear waste policy since 2004. Furthermore, many in the waste industry feel unable to plan as they do not know what type of waste infrastructure will be supported by the Government.

Up to €80m has been wasted by Cork and Fingal county councils on developing landfills they don’t intend to use now, as they are financially unfeasible.

Discussing the upcoming policy document, Mr Hogan said: “The approach to waste policy will be guided by the environmental principles of the waste hierarchy and this will be key to developing a sustainable approach to the management of our waste”.

Meanwhile, IBEC has said companies here will invest in waste infrastructure if “there is sufficient clarity from Government”.

Environmental executive Conor Gouldsbury said government indecision since 2004 “has hampered the kind of infrastructural development that we need”.

It was also a negative factor, he said, for international companies looking to locate industry.