Tag Archives: EPA

The EPA has published the 2012 National Waste Report, which provides valuable information on trends in waste generation and management. It highlights the impact of an evolving waste policy landscape in Ireland, and changing household behaviours in relation to waste generation. Municipal waste generated per capita has decreased by 24% over the period 2007 to 2012 from 0.78 tonnes of waste generated per person in 2007 to 0.59 tonnes in 2012. Whilst the economic downturn undoubtedly had an impact on the levels of waste generated, this indicates a trend towards less waste generated and improved waste prevention in the country. Dr Jonathan Derham, EPA programme manager, said,“The data shows that Irish society is producing less waste per capita and is deriving more value from the waste it does generate through recycling and use as a fuel. Maximising the resource efficiency of all materials consumed is an essential aim of our transition to a sustainable economy.” 2012 was the first year …

In a Seanad debate, Senator Tony Mulcahy claimed that locally based company Enva is behind the severe smells in Shannon, while he was very critical of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Enva were approached for comment but their only response was to rebut separate comments made by another senator about their Portlaoise facility. The EPA defended itself against Mr Mulcahy’s allegations and claimed it is proactive in seeking to prevent pollution. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Mulcahy said, “Last year, I attended a meeting at which the horrendous smell that caused a serious problem in Shannon for the last couple of years was discussed. The smell was coming from the treatment plant, but I have always asked what was going into the treatment plant to cause the problem. There are 350 inadequate treatment plants around the country, but they do not all cause such a smell. We received figures from Enva in Shannon last year. These figures are on the …

THE recent return of a “sewerage-type smell” in parts of Shannon has prompted renewed calls for the Government to fast-track the allocation of €22 million for a major upgrading of the “outdated” treatment plant. Councillor PJ Ryan said there are reports of a return of an intermittent “sewerage-type smell” in parts of Shannon, including the Tradaree and Cronan Gardens area. While this foul smell, which comes and goes, isn’t as bad as the pungent one that caused huge difficulties last year, Councillor Ryan explains it tends to get worse as the day gets hotter. Councillor Ryan believes foul odours will continue to cause a nuisance for businesses and residents until the sewerage treatment plant is properly upgraded. The Independent Councillor said the plant was never designed to take the current volumes of industrial and domestic waste. Councillor Gerry Flynn said he recently contacted the environment section of the council, following complaints from residents about a foul smell in the town. …

The Enviormental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that sites where hazardous waste was disposed of in the past should be identified, assessed and, where necessary, remediated. It is one of the matters addressed in the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan for the years 2014-2020, unveiled this week. The plan sets out the priorities to be pursued over the next six years and beyond to improve the management of Ireland’s hazardous waste. Dr Jonathan Derham, EPA programme manager said society has an important role to play to reduce the risks posed by hazardous waste to human health and the environment. “We need improved collection and treatment of hazardous wastes from households and small businesses. In addition, product manufacturers and distributers of products that are hazardous when discarded need to take a greater role in the life-cycle management of these wastes, including prevention,” he said. The plan makes 27 recommendations, including the one in respect of remediation of sites where hazardous waste has been …

THE report by the Environmental Protection Agency on Bathing Water Quality shows that each of Clare’s 11 bathing areas were deemed to be compliant with mandatory water quality levels in 2013. Bathing waters were classified into three categories, namely ‘Good’, ‘Sufficient’ and ‘Poor’. The classification system is based on the levels of E. Coli and intestinal enterococci detected in the bathing water during the 2013 bathing season. All 11 bathing areas around Clare were adjudged to have ‘Good Water Quality’ having complied with EU Guide and Mandatory levels, including Ballyalla Lake, on the outskirts of  Ennis, which was deemed to only have ‘Sufficient Water Quality’ in 2012. The other bathing water areas are White Strand (Milltown Malbay), Ballycuggeran (Lough Derg), Cappa Pier (Kilrush), Bishopsquarter, White Strand (Doonbeg), Kilkee, Spanish Point, Lahinch, Fanore and Mountshannon (Lough Derg). According to Paul Moroney, senior engineer with  Clare County Council, the local authority is delighted that each of the 11 designated bathing areas that …

Dan Danaher SHANNON was one of 44 Irish towns that didn’t comply with mandatory effluent quality and sampling standards in 2012, a newly published report has confirmed. The Environmental Protection Agency report found that Shannon was one of the areas that “did not meet all the relevant mandatory effluent quality standards for biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen and phosphorus”. The report said that Shannon failed to meet the standards set for effluent quality and pointed to “persistent failures”, in that at least 50% of the effluent samples from the town’s treatment plant did not achieve all of the relevant quality standards during 2012. It said that such a performance is “indicative of poor plant performance or overloading of the treatment plant”. In a statement, Councillor Sean McLoughlin said he was dissatisfied with the report, claiming it failed to adequately address concerns regarding odours coming from the Shannon Sewerage Scheme. The former Mayor of Shannon said, “The EPA has …

By Peter  O’Connell CLARE County Council is investigating claims that there are at least nine asbestos dumps in the Kilrush and Kilkee areas of West Clare. The asbestos waste was dumped on both public and private lands and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed on Wednesday that it has been contacted on the issue. The matter was raised by Councillor PJ Kelly at Monday’s Kilrush Electoral Area meeting. He later told The Clare Champion that he had discovered that it would cost up to €2.9m to pay for the clean up operation. The council maintains, however, that the figure involved cannot be determined at this stage, as cost associated with carrying out these works “are as yet undetermined”. In a statement on Wednesday evening, Clare County Council said, “All of the asbestos material investigated to date consists of broken pieces of asbestos cement water main. It is considered that all of this material originated on Clare County Council water services …

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Clare County Council were both under fire at this week’s meeting of Shannon Electoral Area councillors, as members discussed the smell that has plagued Shannon. One of the councillors, Fine Gael’s Sean McLoughlin, even said that locals might have to erect barricades to keep out trucks carrying hazardous materials. Both Councillor McLoughlin and Councillor Gerry Flynn brought motions to the meeting regarding the smell. Councillor McLoughlin was asking that the council request the Department of the Environment to organise an independent review of all industrial and waste licences in Shannon. He said that such a review should be carried out by an independent body, from outside the country, rather than the EPA, who he made it quite clear he didn’t have any faith in. A reply from the council’s Environment and Water Directorate stated; “Clare County Council are currently considering requesting the review of existing licences of a number of facilities in Shannon as …