Irish Examiner - 06/03/06
A straight answer on incinerator emissions

MAY I compliment Ms Jackie Keaney of Indaver Ireland for her interesting dissertation on incineration, European-style (Irish Examiner, March 2).

In my letter to the Irish Examiner published on February 15, I requested a simple answer to a simple, layperson’s question, referring to the toxic (poison) hazardous waste incinerator installation proposed for Cork harbour.

I repeat, will the emissions from the 55m chimney stack into the atmosphere contain poisons? Also, will the residual ash contain poisons?

Just yes or no, thank you.

Norcott Roberts
Sydenham Cottage
Monkstown
Co Cork

ON March 2, Jackie Kearney attempted in her letter to justify the toxic trespass of Cork Harbour, by stating it is “possible to locate facilities near to densely-populated areas”.

It certainly is not recommended by the World Health Organisation. What Norcott Roberts was asking was whether the proposed toxic incinerator would issue toxic emissions into the air that we breathe.

These questions were answered by the damning evidence of the experts on Prime Time the previous week, which left no doubt but that modern incinerators do affect public health. The recommendation in December 2005 (coming from health experts in Britain) that no new incinerators should be built because of health implications, was not surprising.

Perhaps, Ms Kearney in her assertion that “Indaver has always been willing to debate public health in the context of incineration” could give us the reason why they put in their appeal under the old act which did not allow health information to be discussed at the planning oral hearing.

Mary Mangan
Fairy Hill
Monkstown
Co Cork