Council demands further details on super-composter

Cork County Council has sought a raft of further information from an East Cork farmer who wants to build a 10,000-tonne, organic composting facility on his land.

Up to 100 people living in the Knockraha area and beyond had objected to the planned super-composter, saying it could pose a health risk and pollute water in the wider Glanmire area.

The Ballynagaul project, according to farmer James O’Donovan’s planning application, is “an extension of existing agricultural practices” in his farmyard.

In planning papers, Mr O’Donovan says he will not make any money out of the project but will charge a minor gate fee to those seeking to dispose of waste. Up to 8,000 tonnes of food waste and 2,000 of green waste will be composted at the site.

The application says the compost will be spread on Mr O’Donovan’s land to increase the soil’s organic compound.

Cork County Council’s planning department has sought further details from Mr O’Donovan on what products, food waste, green waste, and animal waste if any, he will accept for composting at the proposed Knockraha plant. They also want a full assessment of any atmospheric emissions that will emanate from the development and details of tests to be carried out on surface water run-off.

The council also wants to know how much of the compost created will be used at Mr O’Donovan’s own farm, the hours and days of week he will accept waste at the facility, the number and type of vehicles required to transfer the compost to the site and a demonstration of the best available techniques he will use to “prevent or eliminate emissions that will result from the on-site activities proposed”.

Details of “all mitigation measures which are to be put in place to prevent nuisance (dust, noise, odour etc) to third-party properties from the storage, shredding, composting of waste in the facility and the land- spreading of the matured compost”, are also sought.

They are also seeking a noise impact assessment outlining how the development will affect noise levels in the vicinity.

According to the residents of Knockraha, research in Germany shows anyone living in a 2km-3km radius of such a plant will be at increased risk of asthma and other chest ailments because of micro-organisms and spores released into the air by the composting.

They further claim that, in Britain, such super-composters must be 500m from domestic dwellings.

In Knockraha, the nearest dwelling is 125m away. The local national school is 700m away and the nearest stream is 300m from the 55-acre farm.

This stream flows into the Butlerstown River, which continues into the Glashaboy River. Water supply for Glanmire, Riverstown, Brooklodge, Knockraha, and Glouthaune comes from the Glashaboy.

The planning application says there is no need for an environmental impact statement or an integrated pollution prevention and control licence.

The council has asked that the requested details be submitted within six months.