Toxic waste fears must be tackled

NOBODY wants to live beside an incinerator or a dump. Yet, there is growing pressure on local authorities to provide such controversial facilities as Ireland struggles to cope with a mountain of toxic, commercial and domestic waste.

The urgency of confronting this dilemma and the intensity of opposition to such controversial proposals were underlined yesterday as councillors threw out plans for a 100,000-tonne hazardous waste plant at Ringaskiddy in Cork harbour, focal point of the State's burgeoning chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

Whether objections are based on environmental, health or property considerations the prospect of having an incinerator next door is a highly emotive issue that goes far beyond the NIMBY not in my backyard syndrome.