International Waste Expert Dr Dominick Hogg, Author of Waste Policy, Planning and Regulation in Ireland ,will address the EPA and Department of Environment on the 3rd and 4th of September at their National Conference entitled “Towards 2020:The Environment in Ireland’s Future”. The conference will take place at the Burlington Hotel Conference Centre and will address delegates from industry, public authorities and NGOS.

A spokeswoman from CHASE said “This is hopefully the beginning of a process which will look seriously at managing Ireland’s waste for the next 20 years ,without resorting to incineration. This is a very positive step in light of Minister Gormley’s recent comments at the Festival of World Cultures where he stated “incineration is no longer the cornerstone of our waste management policy." This approach will no doubt have an affect on planning. In the past we have seen An Bord Pleanala overruling the recommendations of it’s own inspectors on the basis that incineration was Govt policy. This is no longer the case”

Dr Hogg’s recently completed Report highlights Ireland’s over reliance on incineration as a form of waste management and points to the associated problems including economies of scale abd difficulties with not meeting our EU obligations under the Landfill Directive.The Report focuses on the absence of serious consideration of alternatives by the authorities and recommends Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT), a process where a combination of mechanical and biological treatments enable recovery of resources. MBT has not been examined by Irish policy makers despite it being a cheaper and a more readily deliverable form of waste management.

The Ringskiddy Incinerator Case Judicial Review Hearing has been listed for hearing at the High Court on 30th October.

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For further information:
Mary Hurley, CHASE PRO, 021 4813070 086 8162448
Mary O’Leary, CHASE Chairperson, 021 811953 086 8177737
Linda Fitzpatrick ,086 8519197.