Permission for Poolbeg waste incinerator sought

Dublin City Council has applied to An Bord Pleanála for planning permission for the controversial municipal waste incinerator at Poolbeg in Ringsend. The incinerator, originally proposed for the Poolbeg peninsula in 1999, will burn 600,000 tonnes of waste annually.

It is certain to be strongly opposed by residents of southeast Dublin, environmental groups and politicians, including local TD Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, once the plans go on display on Monday.

The development is planned for 5.5 hectares immediately to the west of the regional sewage plant, built three years ago and has been the cause of ongoing odour problem since.

The main incinerator building will be 200m long, 130m wide and 52m high and will be adjoined by two 100m chimney stacks. The incineration process will provide enough electricity for the equivalent of 50,000 homes and heating for a further 60,000 homes in the local area, the council claims.

The 600,000 tonnes of waste accounts for 25 per cent of Dublin's household and non-hazardous commercial waste. Diverting this waste from landfill will save approximately eight acres of land each year, according to the environmental impact statement.

In its traffic predictions submitted to the planning board, the council states that 121 trucks will be required to transport the waste for incineration. However, it said: "This will not generate significant traffic on either the local or strategic road network and adequate capacity is available on the road network to accommodate the development."

The council is simultaneously applying to the Environmental Protection Agency for a waste licence and to the Commission for Energy Regulation for permission to supply energy to the national grid.

The planning application also provides details of an €8 million lump sum community gain fund, which the council, in conjunction with the developer, Danish company Elsam, is obliged to establish.

A board to include local councillors and representatives from community groups will be established to decide how the money is spent. The fund will be topped up with €250,000 annually.

The planning and licence applications will be available at the council's offices in Dublin city centre and Ringsend from Monday. The incinerator will also serve the three other Dublin local authority areas of Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the plans will also be available at those offices.

Objections and other submissions can be made until October 2nd. There has been consistent, vociferous opposition to the siting of the incinerator at Poolbeg since the site was proposed and a large volume of objections is expected.

A Bord Pleanála public oral hearing is likely to be held next year and it is unlikely that building will start before 2009.

The incinerator is in line with Government policy; however, Mr McDowell said he intended to submit objections to the planning board.