Carlow County Council and the Environmental Protection Agency are conducting an investigation into the dumping of several thousand tonnes of waste on a site close to the River Slaney.
The illegal dump was discovered at Kilcarry, near Clonegal, last week. A preliminary survey of the waste suggests it is not hazardous, the council said yesterday. An independent consultant, however, is to examine the site to determine the potential environmental consequences.
Mr Brendan Morrissey, an administrative officer with the council, said the waste appeared to be shredded plastic, builders' rubble and other commercial refuse. There was no evidence of hospital waste at the site, he said.
The landowner had agreed to desist from allowing further dumping on the site.
Mr Morrissey said that while the dump was close to the Slaney, there was no immediate threat to the environment. The independent consultant would determine the long-term consequences.
Following the consultant's report, the council would probably begin a High Court action under the Waste Management Act of 1996, he added. The objective would be to ensure the unauthorised dumping stopped and to ensure the offender carried out any necessary remedial works.
A single commercial operator has been identified as allegedly having been responsible for the dumping. Preliminary surveys indicate that the extent of the dumping was "in the region of a few thousand tonnes", the council said.