Landfill investigations - Proper risk assessments

Cork County Council has ordered the examination of a further seven landfill sites following the finding of confidential material at the site in Glounthaune.

The sites are to be examined to ensure they do not pose any environmental risk.

Three of the four sites to be examined in west Cork — at Clonakilty, Castletownbere and Glengarriff — have been categorised as high risk. Three sites in Dunmanway, Cloyne and Buttervant are considered moderate risk, while Fermoy is classed as low risk.

The council claims it is being proactive in its search, rather than just reacting to the embarrassment caused by the recent finds. This is in line with the Environmental Protection Agency’s code of practice in relation to Environmental risk assessment for unregulated waste disposal sites, issued in April 2007.

Uncovering of dangerous toxic waste in Haulbowline has highlighted the dangers. How many more of these dodgy landfill sites are there nationally? This is an opportunity for the Green Party to demonstrate its clout in government, by ensuring the assessments are carried out throughout the country. The Government should ensure there is a proper risk assessment of all landfill sites on a national scale without delay.