VOICE presents Incineration Report to Minister John Gormley

23 January 2008

Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment met today with Minister John Gormley to present its findings on the economic costs of relying on incineration as Ireland’s main method of waste disposal.

Many believe that incineration is the solution to all our waste management woes. However, not only are there health and environmental concerns around incineration, but there are economic considerations that must be evaluated before Ireland makes a 25-year commitment to this waste management option.

The report outlines the economic costs, including the capital, transportation, employment, environmental and monopolistic costs of using incineration. VOICE also lists alternative waste management options and the relative costs.

‘Before Ireland signs on to a 25-year commitment to incineration, we must consider the costs to the taxpayer. We don’t have to operate in a vacuum. We only need to look at other communities internationally that have opted for and against incineration. In the US, many localities publicly financed the construction of incinerators through the issuance of bonds. When other waste management solutions, such as recycling and commercial composting, appeared, the waste stream to the incinerators diminished. As a result, the incinerators did not operate at full capacity and found that they were losing money. Bonds were degraded and localities were anxious to pass legislation to ensure the waste stream again flowed to incinerators, thus crippling other more sustainable waste management businesses. Many communities have adopted a Zero Waste approach which relies on prevention, recycling, composting and other technologies instead of incineration,’ stated Mindy O’Brien, director of VOICE.

‘ Ireland will have a waste management monopoly with incinerators in place. The Dublin City Council has already signed a put or pay contract with Dublin Waste to Energy, Ltd. to commit that a certain stream of waste will flow to Poolbeg. If the stream is less than contracted, the Dublin City Council will have to pay the difference. That financial burden will ultimately fall on the residents of Dublin.’

For copies of this report or if you have any questions, please contact Edurne Gil in the VOICE office.

ENDS