Ireland's largest waste management firm, Greyhound Recycling and Recovery, and two of its directors have been hit with penalties for failing to prevent emissions and odours from their main storage facility in Dublin.
An environmental watchdog identified a serious smell problem at the storage site at Crag Avenue, Clondalkin, in assessments in February, March and May last year, a court heard. The firm took over Dublin City Council's domestic bin collection service in January 2012. Two of its directors, brothers Michael and Brian Buckley, were prosecuted by the Environmental Protection Agency for breaking waste management regulations.
Smell 'interference'
The court heard that waste was not properly stored and the smell was "resulting in significant interference with the amenity and environment in the area".
The company and the Buckley brothers faced four charges for failing to adhere to waste management conditions of their licence, between August 2011 and May 2012. While the firm entered a guilty plea, the Buckleys, from Terenure, contested their charges but were found guilty by Judge John O’Neill at Dublin District Court.
The judge imposed fines of €10,000 on the company, which also has to pay EPA legal costs.He said the directors would benefit from the Probation Act if they each gave €5,000 to charities Laura Linn and the Jack and Jill Foundation.