Cork firms among Irish companies with 'poorest environmental performance'

Sites that appear on the list are subject to an escalation of enforcement action by the EPA, up to and including legal action, suspension or revocation. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Odour and noise accounted for 90% of all complaints to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year, according to its latest enforcement report.

Of the 1,200 inspections carried out at 535 licensed industrial and waste facilities, 91% were unannounced.

The EPA identified 11 sites — most of which are in Munster — as national priority sites for enforcement in 2023.

Most were in the food and drink sector (five) and waste sector (three).

They included Tipperary firms Arrabawn Co-operative Society and Tipperary Co-operative Creamery, and the Arrow Group in Kildare.

The five Cork companies on the list were Eras Eco Ltd, Forge Hill Recycling Ltd, Gairdini trading as Munster Joinery, North Cork Co-Op Creameries, and Timoleague Agri Gen.

Of these, North Cork Co-Op Creameries and Timoleague Agri Gen are two of the three companies that remain on the list.

The third firm to remain on the list is Wellman International, in Meath.

The list is seen by the EPA as another important tool assisting its enforcement effort at the licensed operators with “the poorest environmental performance”.

A score is assigned to each facility based on enforcement factors such as complaints, incidents, compliance investigations, and non-compliances with the licence.

Sites that appear on the list are subject to an escalation of enforcement action by the EPA, up to and including legal action, suspension or revocation.

Since its launch in 2017, some 50 sites have been identified as national priority, with 11 sites on the list in 2023.

The report notes enforcement activities by the EPA have resulted in a decrease in complaints, which are down 36% from 2021.

Some 22 prosecutions were concluded in 2023, resulting in fines of €137,750 and costs of €245,047 being imposed.

The year also saw the first successful district court prosecution for the extraction of peat without a licence from the EPA.

EPA’s director of the Office of Environmental Enforcement Dr Tom Ryan said: “The increased focus on the improvement of odour and noise management at EPA licensed sites has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of complaints received.

“The EPA will maintain a focus on nuisance arising from licensed sites and will take enforcement action, where appropriate. The phasing-out of older power stations, unexpected shutdowns and increased energy demand [including by data centres] has put pressure on Ireland’s electricity supply.

“The establishment of a new energy enforcement team has ensured a strategic approach to enforcement of licensed sites in the energy sector.”

The EPA is responsible for the environmental regulation of large industrial and waste activities and to ensure operators carry on their activities in accordance with their EPA licences.