There is little more than two years remaining in the area’s landfill capacity, but the Dublin region still has no alternative waste treatment facilities. As a result, Dublin businesses are faced with some of the highest waste-disposal costs in Europe. The lack of progress has caused landfill charges in south Co Dublin to escalate to €225 per ton, which is three times the EU average of €75.
Other countries have been able to develop the necessary infrastructure without delay. What are we doing wrong? The Environmental Protection Agency’s National Waste Report 2004, which was published last week, again recommends the development of thermal treatment in Ireland.
Dick Roche, the environment minister, said we have “a huge gap in the management of our waste... due to the lack of waste-to-energy thermal treatment facilities”.
Yet the government’s record — and that of our local authorities — on delivering the waste management infrastructure continues to be extremely poor.
The waste-to-energy thermal treatment plant planned for development on the Poolbeg peninsula is already several years behind schedule. It is unlikely to be operational until 2010 at the earliest.
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Incineration must form part of the wider Dublin waste plan. It is part of the integrated solution recognised in EU and national policy for effective waste management. In particular, thermal treatment is required to ensure that the targets for recycling, recovery and landfill diversion targets as part of national and EU policy are achieved.
The Netherlands, which has one of the highest rates of recycling in Europe, operates 11 municipal incinerators, processing 100% of residual household waste.
The Poolbeg peninsula was chosen as the location for the thermal treatment plant for the Dublin region following a selection process that saw several locations in the region evaluated.
While the Poolbeg facility is being developed, it would make sense for residual waste from the Dublin region to be treated in thermal treatment facilities within the greater Dublin area (GDA).
Given that the development of thermal treatment facilities in Meath is at a more advanced stage, we must ensure that sensible regulations are in place that do not hinder the transfer of waste from neighbouring counties within the GDA.
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In the past, the proximity principle has meant that waste produced in Wicklow can quite legally be shipped to Germany for treatment, but cannot be dealt with in Dublin or Meath. This makes no sense. Until the Poolbeg facility is developed, it makes environmental and economic sense to deal with waste on a GDA-wide basis.
Finally, it is almost four years since the Critical Infrastructure Bill was first proposed by the government. The bill would shorten the planning stages for all pieces of waste infrastructure.
The lack of leadership in progressing this invaluable piece of legislation is disappointing.
The loser in all of this is Irish competitiveness.
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Gina Quin,
chief executive
Dublin Chamber of Commerce