Cappa Pier sends its first export to Norway

GOODS were exported from Cappa Pier for the first time in the history of the Kilrush pier last weekend. Clean Ireland Recycling exported 2,500 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel to Norway.

The product was created at their plant in Cree. While Cappa Pier has been utilised for trading purposes in years gone by, it was never used for exporting purposes.

“It was always used for importing timber to the saw mills, Glynn’s Feeds and the seaweed factory. Other than that, I don’t think it was ever used for exporting,” Clean Ireland Recycling director John O’Donoghue told The Clare Champion.

“The last load we shipped was from Foynes. We weren’t too sure that Cappa Pier could take that kind of weight. The heaviest load that went out prior to that was probably for Glynn’s Feeds and it was around 1,200 tonnes. This was 2,500 tonnes,” he added.

Currently Clean Ireland Recycling export refuse-derived fuel to Scandinavia. “We are mostly exporting to Norway, Sweden and Denmark. That process is not allowed here at the moment. That’s not to say it won’t be but under current legislation it’s not,” John O’Donoghue noted before describing how the product is produced.

“We’ve a brown bin out for the last couple of years to remove the food waste. Once you remove the food waste, we’ve a process then whereby we can remove all the ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

“The next stage then is to put the stuff through a bio digester and remove all dampness. You end up then with a material that is suitable for fuel,” John O’Donoghue said.

The company first had to seek the permission of Kilrush Town Council to avail of the pier. “Clean Ireland Refuse sought and obtained the permission of Kilrush Town Council to use the pier at Cappa for the purpose of making its first shipment of treated refuse-derived fuel to Norway.

“Kilrush Town Council welcomes this commercial activity from the pier, which helps support the town of Kilrush and indeed the wider local area,” Kilrush Town Clerk John Corry commented.