The midlands moved a step closer this week to adopting a regional plan to dispose of its waste by reducing landfill and recycling, and burning the remainder to create energy. Five counties have been brought together to implement the plan devised by M.C. O'Sullivan, Consulting Engineers.
The counties involved are Westmeath, Offaly, Longford, Laois and Tipperary North, whose councillors have been debating the problem for the last six months.
Last Monday Offaly councillors met to make a decision, as they had failed to adopt the draft plan at their last meeting. They sought more information on the health and safety issues relating to thermal waste treatment.
However, after a lengthy discussion on Monday and assurances from the county manager, Mr Niall Sweeney, that no location or type of thermal waste disposal unit had been decided on, the plan was adopted.
A number of the councillors said they would put their own monitoring system in place to ensure that there would be no damage to public health.
Last week, Westmeath County Council decided to adopt the plan, which has already been accepted by the councillors of Tipperary North.
The draft plan has proposed 11 waste recycling units for glass, plastic, fabrics and other material, and a vastly increased number of bottle banks throughout the region.
It also has proposed three suitable sites in the region for composting waste material but has not specified which areas would take these facilities.
The most positive part of the plan from the local councillors' point of view is the closure of the three remaining landfill sites which would be replaced by a single site for the region.
However, no one is particularly happy with the idea of a thermal treatment plant and while there is an acceptance that one is necessary, none of the councils wants it in their back yard.
In recent months, environmental and farming groups have expressed concern about the health problems which may arise from an incinerator.
Their concerns are based on new US research which indicates that the levels of dioxins from plants have been underestimated in the US.
However, the location of such a facility has not been identified and that decision will not be taken until the draft plan has been accepted by the councils. Laois and Longford councils will discuss the plan again next month.