Poolbeg decision deferred until summer

THE FUTURE of the Poolbeg incinerator will not be determined before the summer, Dublin City Council has said.

This follows its decision yesterday to extend for a second time its contract with the plant’s developers.

The council’s decision follows the announcement by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan that he is to defer his verdict on the introduction of levies on incineration.

Dublin city manager John Tierney had been due to make a decision on the future of the Poolbeg project by May 2nd.

Work on the incinerator began in December 2009, but has been suspended since last May.

The original contract with developers Covanta was due to expire last September, but Mr Tierney decided to extend it until next month.

Earlier this year Mr Tierney said he hoped construction would restart before that period expired.

The council last night said no decision on the future of the plant would be made before the summer.

“Dublin City Council and Covanta will, by agreement, extend their May 2nd decision date on recommencing the project to enable us to consider the implications of the Minister’s statement today.

“It will be summer before all details are finalised,” it said.

Mr Hogan yesterday increased the levy on waste going to landfill but said he would not be stating his position on the introduction of levies on incineration until after Easter.

An announcement on the introduction of levies for incineration had been expected yesterday, and Mr Hogan’s delay in making that decision meant the council was not in a position to determine the future of the Poolbeg plant.

However, Mr Hogan’s statement that his position would be based on the EU waste hierarchy would indicate that any levies will be lower than those imposed on landfill.

The Poolbeg plant, which will recover energy from the waste, would sit at a higher point on the hierarchy than a landfill facility.

Mr Gormley had proposed pitching levies on landfill and incineration at the same level, of up to €120 a tonne, which would have made Poolbeg unviable.

Meanwhile, waste company Greyhound is to create 112 jobs in recycling and recovery in Clondalkin and Ballymount, Dublin, following the decision of Mr Hogan to increase the landfill levies.