Report criticises lack of Poolbeg incinerator

Dublin businesses are facing landfill charges that are three times the European average, according to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

A report published today by the chamber is critical of the lack of progress in building a thermal treatment centre in the Poolbeg peninsula in Dublin Bay that would alleviate landfill costs.

The report warns that at the current rate of development, the Poolbeg incinerator would not be operational until 2009, and calls on the Government to "urgently" clarify the status and remit of the Critical Infrastructure Bill.

The Bill was designed to speed up delivery of major public initiatives such as motorways, incinerators and the proposed metro.

However, it was indicated by Minister for the Environment Mr Roche in January that the municipal incinerator in Poolbeg would not be included in renewed Government plans for a fast-track planning process for major infrastructure projects.

The chamber says the implementation of the Critical Infrastructure Bill would facilitate a shorter timeframe for the thermal treatment plant and would help to provide "a key component" of the Dublin Waste Management Plan.

The "waste-to-energy" plant is expected to cost some €200 million and is intended to recycle the heat it generates for use by other municipal facilities in the area.

The venture, which is to be developed as a public-private partnership, is considered to be a lucrative opportunity as the value of treating up to 400,000 tonnes of municipal waste annually was estimated three years ago to be €600 million over the 25-year contract period.