Meath to be 'dumping ground' for Dublin

Meath is to become a "dumping ground" for Dublin following An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant permission for an expansion of the Carranstown incinerator, according to objectors to the plant.

The board's decision was condemned yesterday by several Opposition party representatives, a Green Party local councillor and community and environmental groups.

Fine Gael TD for Meath East Shane McEntee said the board's decision to allow Indaver to expand the plant to burn 200,000 tonnes of waste a year was a huge disappointment. "The decision opens the door to this incinerator becoming a national waste facility." He said the decision was particularly worrying in view of Minister for the Environment John Gormley's opposition to the proposed incinerator at Poolbeg, Dublin. "It now appears the incinerator in Meath may also handle Dublin's waste."

An Bord Pleanála had given Indaver "carte blanche" to burn waste from an expanding number of counties, said Labour Party senator Dominic Hannigan. "In other words, Meath is set to become the dumping ground for Dublin."

He was also critical of Mr Gormley's failure to protect Meath from an expansion of the incinerator.

"Before the general election the Green Party were vehemently against incineration but now they are accepting incineration will continue to be a part of Ireland's answer to waste disposal."

Louth county councillor Mark Dearey (Green Party) said he "condemned outright" the decision.

"I find it staggering that this dinosaur technology and outmoded thinking has been given the green light today by the board."

Sinn Féin environment spokesman Martin Ferris said: "Today's decision also allows Indaver to take waste from Dublin to the Carranstown plant, which would suit the Minister's plans to oppose the incinerator in his own constituency while supporting those in Meath and Cork."

Sinn Féin Dublin county councillor Daithí Doolan said the board's decision meant the Poolbeg incinerator was no longer necessary in his view.

The No Incineration Alliance, which was been campaigning against the Meath incinerator for almost eight years, said the plant was a "cancer factory", and it would continue to oppose it.