Incinerator contract signed despite no planning decision

The contract for an incinerator on Dublin’s southside has been signed despite the development still awaiting the green light, it emerged tonight.

Dublin City Council said Dublin Waste to Energy Ltd was formally awarded the contract to design, build, finance and operate the proposed plant at the Poolbeg Peninsula.

However, developers and opposition parties are still awaiting a final decision on the controversial planning application, which was subject to an oral hearing with An Bord Pleanála earlier this year.

“This project has been ongoing since the late 1990’s and this is another milestone along the way,” said Matt Twomey, Assistant City Manager.

“When the Dublin Waste Plan achieves its ambitious targets of 59% recycling and the amount of waste going to landfill is reduced from the current 70% to just 16%, there will still be 25% of Dublin’s waste remaining that has to be managed.

“Generating energy from the estimated up to 600,000 tonnes annually will provide electricity for 50,000 homes and district heating for a further 60,000 homes. Waste to energy has a role to play in a plan that emphasises maximum recycling and minimum use of landfill.”

An application for a Waste Licence to the Environmental Protection Agency has also been made, while an application to the Commissioner for Energy Regulation will also be required.

The waste incinerator could be built just yards from the home of the Green Party’s Environment Minister John Gormley.

Earlier this week he announced the Government is considering introducing a levy on incinerators to dissuade their use under a major review of the country’s waste management policy.

A 15 euro (£10) levy for every tonne of waste left at a landfill site was introduced in 2002 to encourage people to use eco-friendlier alternatives when disposing of refuse.

Mr Gormley said he was contemplating increasing this figure and extending it to include municipal incinerators, which he believed if rolled out as landfill alternatives would undermine efforts to improve recycling.

Councillor Daithi Doolan, Sinn Fein’s Dublin spokesperson on the environment, said the signing of the contract flies in the face of reality.

“The plan is unwanted, unworkable and unviable,” he said.

“Dublin City Councillors voted to have the plan excluded from the City Development Plan, so the management are working against our very own development plan.

“This is both unacceptable and undemocratic.

“The Green Party must clearly and unequivocally come out and state they will stop this incinerator going ahead.”

Dublin Waste to Energy Ltd is a joint venture company owned by Covanta Energy, USA, a subsidiary of Covanta Holding Corporation and DONG Energy Generation A/S, Denmark, formerly known as Elsam Kraft A/S.

Covanta Energy is a major US company that operates 32 waste to energy facilities and has 20 years experience of waste to energy projects. The company treats approximately 15 million tons of municipal waste every year.