Even the EU doesn’t want an incinerator

WE accuse this Government of recklessness in regard to the health of people living in Cork, its city and especially the densely-populated area in the harbour area, in promoting a site for a national toxic incinerator in an amenity area.Waste is valuable until it is burned and then it becomes an even bigger problem when toxic ash has to be land-filled. Where will that be?

This is reckless policy-making on the part of this Government. Once contract incineration is allowed in, it will de-green Ireland forever and industry will cut back on their capital expenditure on waste management.

Professor Ludwig Krämer is Head of Environmental Governance at the Environmental Director Generalate of the European Commission.

He wrote: “We do not consider that this technique is favourable to the environment or that it is necessary to ensure a stable supply of waste for combustion over the long term.

“Such a strategy would only slow innovation. We should be promoting prevention and recycling above all. Those countries which are in the process of drafting their planning should not base it upon incineration.”

The EU Commission does not promote incineration, so who is putting pressure for incineration?

Mamie Bowen,
Glenville,
Monkstown,
Co Cork.

Irish Examiner - 31st Jan 2004