April 2004

Incinerator for Donegal?

A report released by Minister Cullen at the Department of the Environment (National Overview of Waste Management Plans, April 2004) has confirmed the worse fears of local environmentalists according to Dr. Peter Doran a Green party election candidate for the Inishowen electoral area.

According to Dr Doran the report confirms that thermal treatment - i.e. incineration - will in all probability be revisited as an option when the current Donegal County Council waste management plan is up for review.

"Indeed, the Department goes even further, suggesting that 'The (Donegal) Plan's projections for the scale of diversion of waste from landfill in 2010 and later are based on thermal treatment being one of the alternative's in place' (Section 9.2.2.) In other words, the lack of ambition in the current Donegal waste management plan will be used by the County Manager and Fianna Fail councillors to reintroduce arguments for burning rubbish in Donegal," he said.

The Green Party Candidate claimed that the lack of ambition at Donegal County Council is reflected in the County's miserable performance in providing facilities for Segregated Collection of Dry Recyclables.

"At 4% of projected capacity, Donegal sits at the bottom of the national league, together with Wicklow. At the moment, just 40,000 homes enjoy access to a collection service for dry recyclables," he said.

Donegal County Council have however disputed the claims insisting that Incineration is not an option for Donegal County Council adding that at the moment there is not enough waste being produced in the county to even justify one.

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