Group to make waste management an election issue

Key decisions on the west's waste-management problem may be deferred until after June 11th, but a new organisation is determined to make it an issue in the local election campaign. The National Anti-Landfill Body intends to hold its first official meeting in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, at the end of this month. Ballinasloe is no accidental choice. Since the closure of dumps at Tuam and Carrow browne - the latter by High Court order, with a severe reprimand for Galway Corporation - the east Galway town has been forced to take all of the county's waste for the next six years, pending a long-term strategy.

The consultants commissioned to devise the plan for the local authorities have recommended provision of a thermal treatment plant or incinerator in Galway city or environs by the year 2007.

They have laid much emphasis on the need for minimising waste production and maximising recycling, but have also said there will always be a need for a landfill.

Three potential sites have been named for a new "high tech" dump, which promises to be both "modern" and "well managed". The shortlist is concentrated in east Galway, namely Ballynahistil (Loughrea), Cross (Loughrea/ Athenry) and Boherbannagh (Newbridge/Ballygar).

Not surprisingly concerned representatives of these communities form the backbone of the new anti-landfill organisation. However, residents from 17 other areas earmarked for "super dumps" have also indicated their support.

The approach is constructive, rather than "not in my back yard", according to a spokesman. The organisation intends to focus on viable alternatives to both landfill and incineration; alternatives which have already been adopted elsewhere in Europe, north America and Canada.

Ireland is well above the European average in terms of landfill disposal of waste. Recent figures issued by the Environmental Protection Agency state that about 66 per cent of municipal waste in Europe is landfilled, while about 18 per cent is incinerated, 6 per cent is composted, 9 per cent is subjected to mechanical sorting for recovery and 1 per cent is disposed of by other methods.

In this State, however, some 92.2 per cent of municipal waste is landfilled and 7.8 per cent is recycled. Countries with lower reliance on landfill have a relatively high incineration capacity, the EPA notes: in many instances, heat is recovered from the thermal treatment and used to generate electricity or to provide district heating.

Composting is also on the increase in Europe, with one of the main benefits being production of useful agricultural and horticultural treatments.

The National Anti-Landfill Body believes that if declared targets on recycling and recovery of waste were met, there wouldn't be the need for an incinerator. It is particularly concerned about the recent announcement by Galway's waste consultants that a thermal treatment plant might take material from all five Connacht counties.

"This suggests that they are looking for the tonnage to make an incinerator viable, in other words, encouraging waste production," a member of the Ballinahistle anti-dump group says.

Last month this newspaper reported that local authorities in the north-east and mid-west were also expected to commission studies to identify possible sites for a municipal incinerator, following a strong recommendation that they should consider this waste-disposal method. The advice came from M.C. O'Sullivan, the company commissioned by the local authorities in Galway.

Several politicians have expressed their support for the National Anti-Landfill Body, and some attended the group's inaugural gathering earlier this month.

The Green MEP, Ms Nuala Ahern, warned the meeting that a problem had been turned into a crisis, due to the inertia of the Irish authorities. "The lack of enforcement of EU and national legislation on waste has led to the problem going out of control," she said.

The Green Party TD, Mr Trevor Sargent, said "the principle of the producer pays should be part of any national strategy of waste management."

There are already plenty of examples of local initiatives designed to take a more enlightened approach to waste, the group states. The Farm Relief Services organisation is one example. The nationwide co-operative is involved in collection of waste plastic, as paid for by the farmer. Every time he or she buys plastic for silage, a fee is levied which goes towards the collection. The plastic is shipped to Scotland and recycled, and farmers have been very supportive of the initiative.