Irish Cement’s proposal to change fuel use at its manufacturing plant outside Limerick city brings a wide range of unacceptable environmental and health risks, according to an international anti-incineration campaigner.
The company has obtained planning permission from Limerick City and County Council for a 10-year permission for development to allow for the replacement of fossil fuels through the introduction of “lower carbon alternative fuels”.
More than 15 objectors have outlined their concern in submissions, many of which cited a lack of trust in relation to how the facility was being operated.
Representing the Limerick Against Pollution campaign group, Prof Paul Connett told an An Bord Pleanála oral hearing in Limerick into the proposed development that there were particular consequences from the use of waste in cement kilns in spite of the very high temperatures used.
The associated risk made an application to burn 90,000 tonnes of tyres, solvents and other wastes annually at Irish Cement’s plant in Mungret unsustainable in a global, Irish and local context, he said.
It would be better if it used natural gas instead of a “dirty and risky fuel”.
‘Business as usual’
He said the message it was sending to industry was: “If society can’t re-use it, recycle it or compost it, don’t worry – we will burn it in our kilns, save our industry lots of money on fuel, and get paid doing it.”
This was “business as usual” thinking “when our planet cannot afford business as usual”, said Prof Connet, who is based in the US.
He also strongly criticised Irish Cement’s environment impact statement, claiming it had an inadequate assessment of dioxin emissions and what happens in the event of an incident at the plant. There was no “accident analysis” in relation to the storage of tyres, solvents and other combustibles, he said.
In addition, there was “a lack of candour in terms of providing adequate and accurate data”, Prof Connett claimed.
In addition to a threat to the status of Irish agriculture beyond the immediate vicinity of the plant, Limerick’s knowledge-based industries needed to attract the brightest people to live in the area, he said. “What a shock it must be for a leading software provider to see a big cement kiln near where their kids go to school and then know waste is burning there.”
Tim Hourigan, chairman of Limerick Educate Together School Mungret parents’ association, told the hearing the parents wished to emphasise “great dismay at this new proposal, the unclear and untested nature of it, and the lack of answers and accurate information upon which to base decisions and to seek expert advice”.
Martin Gleeson, chairman of Dooradoyle and St Nessan’s Park Residents’ Association, said there was overwhelming evidence about the incineration of tyres and release of dioxins and other particles. “We know the proposed change is to an old kiln to be converted to a fuel type it was never meant to burn.”
‘Total disregard’
Gouldavoher resident Margaret McMahon said she was “angry and frustrated that our city council executives could and did show such total disregard for the people of Limerick and its suburbs”.
The council granted planning permission for the development “in full knowledge of its unsuitability and the risk it poses to the area”, she claimed.
Irish Cement defended the manner with which dioxin risk was evaluated using a verified “human health risk assessment protocol” which found there were very low dioxins levels locally in soil, water, milk and human samples.
Dr Don Menzies, for the company, said that with the change in fuel use, dioxin levels would further reduce over time.
Businessman JP McManus, who lives in Co Limerick, has attended the first two days of the hearing. He said on Wednesday he was concerned about the proposed development and was present to support local residents. He has not made a submission as a formal objector.
A separate application to renew the plant’s emissions licence has been submitted by Irish Cement to the Environmental Protection Agency. This will be determined after the An Bord Pleanála decision.
