An aerial view of the land at Tymoole, Rathfeigh

Council's €6m operation to dig up 70,000 tonnes of waste from 'unauthorised' dump

Published: Sun 1 Oct 2017, 9:23 PM

Last updated: Sun 1 Oct 2017, 10:33 PM

PAUL MURPHY

WHAT the Council is calling an ‘unauthorised’ dump containing 70,000 tonnes of waste in the heart of County Meath is to be the subject of a major removal operation lasting 12-15 months and costing close to €6 million.
Meath County Council has mounted a communication blitz to warn residents and others living near the site at Tymoole, Rathfeigh of the size of the operation in advance of the signing of contracts with a contractor who will then be expected to be on the site within three weeks, just before the end of this month.
Council officials were calling to homes in the area on Monday this week to advise residents about the operation about to start on the 1 hectare (2.4 acre) site and an information meeting will also be held at the Duleek headquarters of the council on 12th October. In addition, a dedicated public relations officer will be on the site to answer residents’ questions and they can receive regular updates by email.
The landfill is believed to date back to over 10 years ago. There were numerous agencies involved in the investigation of the site including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI). This case is currently dormant but any new evidence will be retained and reported to the NBCI for further consideration and possible prosecution.
Some 70,000 tonnes of waste is to be removed from the location, not all of it dumped waste. Approx 30,000 tonnes is dumped waste, the remainder being contaminated soil underneath the dumped material and soil used for capping. This 70,000 tonnes are to be moved by road to Knockharley Landfill.