Waterford city councillors who visited waste incineration plants in mainland Europe in the last week say it helped to give them a more balanced view of the issue.
Eight members of Waterford Corporation accompanied senior council officials, including the city manager, Mr Eddie Breen, on the tour of thermal treatment plants in Copenhagen, Frankfurt and Paris.
While councillors stressed they still had an open mind, several were impressed by what they saw.
The Mayor of Waterford, Mr Pat Hayes, said he took a "different view" of incineration now. "I'm satisfied that monitored properly and with modern management, they [incinerators] are reasonably safe," he said.
Mr Hayes said the incinerator managers were asked "hard questions" by members of the group, which also included Waterford journalists. He believed the answers given had been honest and forthright.
He was particularly impressed by what he had seen in Copenhagen, where two sites were visited. "In Denmark they recycle 60 per cent of their waste. You wouldn't see a sweet paper on the streets. Even with 60 per cent recycling they still need incineration. It's a country which is very environmentally aware. They had the argument 20 years ago that we're having now."
Councillors would also have to hear the argument from those against incinerators before making their minds up, he added.
A Fianna Fail councillor, Ms Mary Roche, said the trip was the first opportunity she had had to hear the arguments in favour of incineration. She still had an open mind but was also impressed by what she had seen.
"On the Continent they more or less consider incineration to be recycling. The planning issues that arise concern traffic flow and things like that," she said. One of the plants near Copenhagen was within 50 yards of an upmarket residential area, yet there was no public opposition.
A report on the tour will be presented to the city council by Mr Breen, probably in September. In the meantime consultants are expected to report to Waterford County Council and the corporation about their efforts to find a landfill site in the west of the county.