Clare council petitions Kerry to take its waste when landfill closes

Clare County Council has petitioned its Co Kerry counterparts in an effort to avert a looming waste crisis in Clare.

Four weeks away from the possible closure of Clare's central landfill site, the council has formally requested Kerry to accept its waste when its only landfill at Doora, outside Ennis, closes.

Already, Tipperary North Riding (NR) County Council has agreed in principle to receive waste from Clare.

It is estimated Tipperary NR Council could receive 10,000 tonnes per annum from Clare. However, a shortfall would remain as Doora landfill currently receives 44,000 tonnes per annum.

Landfilling at the Doora site could cease before the end of next month if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) upholds an earlier proposal. The site will definitely close in June following a High Court order, with no replacement operational until mid-2002.

Kerry County Council is being targeted as it is the only other local authority in the region with the capacity to accept waste from Clare. This follows a recent decision by the EPA licensing Kerry County Council to almost double the capacity of its north Kerry landfill from accepting 40,000 tonnes per annum to 77,000 tonnes per annum.

Kerry County Council refused a request in November from Clare county manager Mr Willie Moloney to accept waste from Clare. However, this was before the recent EPA decision in relation to the north Kerry landfill.

The Clare council chairman, Mr Sean Hillery, said yesterday he believed it would receive a positive response to its request.

He confirmed he had written to his Kerry counterpart, Mr Tom Fleming, requesting him to reconsider Kerry's earlier decision. The request is accompanied by a petition from his council colleagues.

Mr Fleming said the letter had been circulated to Kerry council members and the matter was to be considered at next month's council meeting and at the council's Special Policy Committee (SPC) for waste management.

Mr Hillery said Kerry was involved with Clare in a joint waste management plan where Clare's partners agreed they may accept waste from Clare in the interim period between the closure of Doora and the opening of its new landfill.

He said he would be prepared to address a meeting of Kerry County Council on the matter.