Hogan scraps incineration levy

A levy on incineration proposed by former minister for environment John Gormley has been scrapped.

The move by current Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan reverses the previous Government's opposition to incineration and is a major boost for the economic viability of Poolbeg incinerator in Dublin.

The move has already been welcomed by waste-to-energy advocates as "part of Ireland's economic revival" and by Dublin City Council which is backing the incinerator project.

Mr Hogan confirmed this afternoon the Government had proposed an amendment to the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill currently at Committee stage in the Oireachtas.

The amendment to Section 7 of the Bill, which made provision for the incineration levies simply states "section proposed to be deleted".

PJ Rudden of RPS Consultants - who drew up the Dublin regional waste strategy which is dependent on the waste to energy facility at Poolbeg - said Mr Gormley's plan was "probably illegal" if implemented.

This was because it proposed to put incineration and landfill on a par, when an EU waste management directive held landfill was the least desirable option.

He said Mr Hogan's move properly considered waste as a resource and in terms of efficiency showed Ireland was "now open for business" again. He said removing the restriction on the industry should be seen "as part of Ireland's economic revival".

The move was regretted however by Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, who said it was a "remarkable reversal" of policy and one which "gives the green light to a project that could cost the Irish people dearly".

He said the incinerator levy could have been graded so it was a lower levy than landfill and in keeping with the EU hierarchy. "But this will kill new technologies and kill new industries ...and scupper the development of recycling".