A proposal to build an anaerobic digester plant to treat animal/agricultural waste on the banks of the river Slaney in Co Wexford has run into local opposition.
NRGE Ireland has applied to Wexford County Council for planning permission and separately to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the scheme at Killurin, about five miles north of Wexford town. Such digesters uses microbes to break down waste in a closed system that excludes oxygen.
At present, Renard Pig Farms operates a number of piggeries in the area and the plan is to use their largest yard at Killurin as the site where the waste disposal plant would be built.
However, the Crossabeg Killurin Local Environment Group, is objecting to the plan. The group claims that the section of the river by the plant site is "of great natural scenic beauty", which is "extensively used" by anglers, rowers, boating enthusiasts, and is "home to a number of protected species".
Wexford Co Council has requested further information from NRGE Ireland before proceeding with the application. Separately, in January, the EPA issued a preliminary licence to process agricultural waste at the site and this would come into effect, were no objections made.However, last week when the deadline for appeals closed, it had received 12 objections.
Dr John Morris a member of the local group, and a former lecturer in agricultural science in UCD says that while he is "very supportive of the principle of anaerobic digesters", he is fearful that "the scale of this development will cater for far more than the waste created in the locality".
Artist Peter Pearson, who is living in the area, is also objecting to the unit.
He noted that this part of the Slaney is a Special Area of Conservation. He said the development "is unsuitable as the area is prone to flooding", and that the unit could "end up treating not just pig slurry, but also fish waste, dairy sludge, and offal".
However, Michael McEniry of NRGE Ireland said fears were "misplaced", stating "the type of waste to be used is that which is currently land-spread".
Mr McEniry said the Danish partner in the project has "20 years experience and operates 15 of these environmentally sustainable plants". The creation of such plants is driven "by the need for compliance with the nitrates directive", and that "by using the digestive process at Killurin, we can significantly reduce the type of odours associated with the piggery". However, he conceded that as the project is "capital intensive" it would require outside waste. When contacted yesterday, Niamh Leahy of the EPA said the agency "is required to give its decision at the latest within four months".