Madam, – Your Editorial (February 3rd) on the Poolbeg incinerator is ill-informed and unacceptably biased towards one individual’s political persuasion. The figures leaked by the former Minister for the Environment are hypothetical and are based on a report, the terms of reference of which did not allow for a full examination of the put or pay clause in the Contract.
The four Dublin local authorities are confident that by the time the Poolbeg plant is built, the economy will be beginning to grow again. We fully expect the taxpayer will be the beneficiary of the project and will not be burdened by it. The Poolbeg plant will provide the four Dublin local authorities with 25 years’ earnings of approximately €10 million annually (today’s prices), from the energy; electricity and district heating that will be generated from the waste.
Under the put or pay clause, the Dublin local authorities will be guaranteed space for waste at the plant and will pay a special reduced price to have the waste under their control treated at Poolbeg. If there is a shortfall in the amount of local authority waste, Covanta will source waste from the market.
Rather than resuscitate the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, as suggested, it will be a matter for the next government to transpose the EU Waste Framework Directive into Irish law thereby ensuring that Ireland deals with waste generated in line with the EU hierarchy and in a sustainable manner similar to the best examples across Europe. Any levies which may be imposed by any new government will then ensure that waste is driven towards the highest point on the hierarchy rather than towards questionable technologies, which may have been politically expedient to the former Minister. – Yours, etc,