This article is from page 4 of the 2005-09-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has expressed extreme concern over efforts by Clare County Council to min- imize the risk of odour nuisance at its €8 million landfill site near Inagh.
Last May, the Council was served with its eighth notice of non-compliance in relation to its management of the landfill, following an unannounced inspection that found fresh waste odour both on and off the site.
Now, the EPA has written to the Council stating that it “is extremely concerned” at the reductions in volume of landfill gas to the landfill gas flare over the Summer months.
The landfill gas flare acts as a means of minimising the risk
of potential for odour nuisance.
In its letter, the Agency states that the Council should in- crease the volumes of gas directed to the gas flare. The EPA States, “Failure to take fast and effective action in relation to this may result in the Agency having to take further enforce- ment action in this regard.”
In response, the Council has written to the EPA to state that the issue, amongst others, has been raised in correspondence between the Council and a firm of consultants
The Council states, “On receipt of the reply, it will be re- viewed with a view to improving the flow rate to the flare.”
The Council’s Director of Service for the Environment, Ger Dollard said this week: “I think there is no doubt that the Bally- duff Beg landfill is being operated to the highest standards.”
On plans to install a composting facility at the site, Mr Dol- lard said: “Many of the elements of the composting facility are already in place. We need to provide an additional tipping building for which a funding application is with the Depart- ment and are also awaiting a licence from the Department of Agriculture in relation to the process. All in all it will be 2006 before the full facility is up and running.”
Meanwhile, groups in the Inagh-Kilnamona area are set to start reaping a €1 million council fund, arising from the pres- ence of the landfill at Ballyduff Beg 2km from Inagh.
The community receives €1.27 for every ton of waste dis- posed of at the landfill.
To date, 140,517 tonnes of waste has been disposed at the landfill since 1t opened in September 2002.