Alarm at plan to store ‘human waste’ in sheds

Proposals to store human waste in sheds in the heart of the West Cork countryside have sparked alarm amongst residents.

The proposed sludge storage site is just 1.5km from the historic Michael Collins ambush site at Béal na mBláth.

“We’re afraid this sludge will be toxic,” said a spokesman for a group protesting against the plan.

Posters and billboards have been erected along roads in the Newcestown area protesting against a proposal by Dublin firm Clearpower Ltd, on behalf of a local landowner, to seek a change of use from existing agricultural sheds to storage sheds for the storage of “machinery, fertilisers, farmyard manure, and soil conditioners”.

The company collects sludge from treatment plants in Ballincollig, Bandon, Blarney, Macroom, and Carrigtwohill.

If the proposal goes ahead, residents fear it will result in a noxious odour as well as the contamination of local streams and the water supply.

“There are up to 20 houses within 500 or 600 yards of the proposed storage site. A stream which originates on this land feeds into a local salmon fishing river, the Bride, which in turn feeds into the Lee,” said Michael Scanlon, chairman of the Farranalough and District Residents’ Association.

A decision by An Bord Pleanála on the proposal to store bio-solids about 1.6km from Newcestown village is expected by early June.

“The fear is that human waste or ‘sludge’ is being transported out into the countryside. It has to be converted into fertiliser. People are very upset because you are talking about human waste,” said Mr Scanlon.

Company director Simon Dick said Clearpower Ltd had unsuccessfully tried to contact the residents’ group to arrange a meeting.

“We remain very open to meeting with the community and explaining the fertiliser production, storage and application process in detail, and answering any questions they may have. We feel that this will help considerably to reduce the current fear from the proposed activity.”

Mr Dick said bio-solids were a “local and sustainable fertiliser product” that were recognised and accepted across Britain and Europe. They were produced in a number of ways from sludge taken from waste water treatment plants, he said.

The company is applying for permission to store finished bio-solid fertiliser product.

“There will be no processing of any sludge to produce the bio-solid, it will only be finished bio-solid fertiliser delivered and stored on the farm.

“This is a de-watered cake/compost-like product, that will be stored in sheds. It does not leach or flow,” he said, adding that there would be very little odour.

“In our experience there is very little bad odour from the bio-solid product, and vermin are not attracted to it at all.”