Residents anger at plans to increase dump intake to 440,000 tonnes of waste a year

ANN CASEY

Proposals for a massive 400 per cent increase in intake at the Knockharley landfill site at Kentstown, as well as the acceptance of hazardous waste, has sparked an angry reaction locally.

Knockharley Landfill Ltd has applied to An Bord Pleanala to increase the tonnage they can accept to 440,000 tonnes annually, including 5,000 tonnes of hazardous waste.

This growth in size will see the height of the landfill increase from 74m to 85m as well as the clearing of 12.4 hectares of trees.
The site currently has planning permission to accept 88,000 tonnes of waste per annum, but emergency powers to allow for the acceptance of the extra tonnage was invoked twice by Meath County Council in recent years when there was a national shortage of landfill capacity. These powers are no longer in place.

The proposed development would see the landfill accept up to 435,000 tonnes of non-hazardous wastes including incinerator bottom ash (IBA) as well as household, commercial and industrial wastes and up to 5,000 tonnes of stable non-reactive hazardous waste. 12.5 hectares of broadleaf leaf and coniferous trees will also have to be cleared to facilitate the extension of the landfill, with 16.8 hectares of trees proposed to be planted over landfill cells that have been covered over to replace them.

The expansion will also require the construction of facilities to handle bottom ash, municipal organic waste and a leachate management facility.
Knockharley Landfill Ltd has made a Strategic Infrastructure Development Application to An Bord Pleanala for the extension to the facility and the deadline for submissions on the development is 5.30pm on 11 February.
The landfill, which is located a short distance from Kentstown primary school, was established in 2004, and was met with strong local opposition. 

Larry Kinsella who lives in the area spoke of the potential impact this current increase would have on the local community. He said “I’m not sure about the impact of the landfill on the health of people in the area, but it’s something that would be at the back of my mind. It’s very close to the school so that’s a concern. Also the increase in capacity would mean there will be more lorries in the area so that will have a big impact on the roads.”

Local resident Fergal O'Byrne said there will be a meeting of residents and there will be an objection lodged against the proposal.

Cllr Darren O’Rourke also voiced his opposition to these developments saying that: "This is a very substantial planning application. It is essential that people familiarise themselves with the details of the application and that they have their say. I have called on Meath County Council to prepare a substantial submission.

For our part, we in Sinn Féin believe the proposed development is unnecessary, excessive and inconsistent with national waste management policy. He also went on to say that while he recognised that others may consider the Knockharley community grant scheme a reasonable trade-off and welcomed the additional funds for the area, he believed that “the risks greatly outweigh the benefits."