Letter - Irish Examiner - 17-03-07
50m Carbon Cost Per Incinerator

Dick Roche, Our Environment Minister, has announced that "If we kept the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at their current levels, there is a two-thirds chance we will keep temerature increases to 2 degrees of less"

The Minister, with respect, needs to employ joined-up-thinking and stop promoting incinerators. The proposed Ringaskiddy Incinerator alone will add at least 2,900,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide to Irelands current CO2 output over a 20 year lifespan. (figures from Indaver Environmental Impact Statement). This figure does not include CO2 emissions from materials such as wood and paper being burned.

To add insult to injury, the government will have to buy Carbon Credits to facilitate these emissions, which at 2006 market prices of 17Euros per tonne, adds up to a cost of 49,300,000Euros. That's almost 50million Euros the exchecquer will have to pay for the Global Warming impact of one incinerator over 20 years. And Minister Roche is planning up to 8 incinerators!!!

Incineration causes global warming and costs the Irish Tax payer money - it's not called Thermal Treatment for nothing!

Linda FitzPatrick
Hilltown
Carrigaline
Co Cork