Indaver granted approval to increase its annual intake of hazardous waste from 10,000 tonnes to 25,000 tonnes
Indaver Ireland has been given approval to increase the tonnage of hazardous waste burned at its Carranstown site to more than double its current level.
An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission for the company to increase its annual intake of hazardous waste from 10,000 tonnes to 25,000 tonnes.
The facility had been permitted to accept 230,000 tonnes of household, commercial and industrial non-hazardous waste and up to 10,000 tonnes per annum of hazardous waste at its site at Carranstown, Duleek, which as been in operation since 2011.
The application which was lodged with Bord Pleanala in July 2020, sought permission to burn up to an additional 15,000 tonnes of hazardous waste per annum and for an increase by 30,000 tonnes per annum of intake of flue gas and other residues for pre-treatment. An aqueous waste tank farm was also proposed, along with a bottom ash storage building for the storage of bottom ash generated on site. It also includes a 10 megawatt hydrogen generation unit.
The proposal was met with an angry reaction from the Duleek and District Environmental Group who said it would cause an even greater health risk to community and the families living in the area.
Reacting to the decision to grant permission, spokesperson, Pat O'Brien said: "It doesn't make much difference. They have doubled and trebled the tonnage of what they talked about at the very start.
“They are taking in hazardous waste, something they promised the community they wouldn't do, and have increased it since. We were promised that it would be a municipal incinerator and only take in household waste but that is long gone out the window."
Mr O'Brien wants to see more regulation and oversight of the facility and with Irish Cement also in the area burning waste, wants to see a regional EPA office in the area.
"The EPA said it would do so but is waiting on government approval. That was several years ago and there is no sign of anything happening."
When the application was lodged, Indaver said the aim of the proposal was to the reduce the export of hazardous waste and increase renewable energy output.
“By installing a hydrogen generation unit onsite, this will allow us to make use of energy that would otherwise be wasted. It is envisaged that hydrogen could be used to fuel vehicles or could be blended with natural gas to provide low-carbon heat for homes and businesses”.
In granting planning permission on 30th March, Bord Pleanala attached a number of conditions including that waste shall not exceed a total of 280,000 tonnes per annum. This includes an additional 15,000 tonnes which may be hazardous and up to 30,000 tonnes of third party boiler ash and flue gas clearing residues and other residues for pre-treatment.
A construction management plan is to be submitted prior to the commencement of works and apart from where "strictly necessary" and prior to subject approval, HGVs will not be allowed through Duleek village.
It also states in the conditions that mitigation and monitoring commitments identified in the Environmental Impact Assessment, and the mitigation measures in the Natura Imapct Statement shall be implemented in full.