There was some respite for Co Clare from its impending waste crisis when Tipperary North Riding County Council yesterday agreed to accept waste from Clare when its only landfill site closes.
Next month Clare's landfill could close if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) upholds an earlier decision to close the Doora site.
Even if the EPA allows the landfill to continue it will close next June following a High Court order secured by local residents.
With no replacement landfill due to open until mid-2002, Clare County Council has made unsuccessful applications to other neighbouring local authorities - two of whom last June adopted a Joint Waste Management Plan with Clare - to accept waste on a temporary basis.
However, yesterday the chairman of Tipperary NR Council, Mr Tony McKenna (Fianna Fail) said: "We are agreeing in principle to accept waste from Clare and we would be seeking a quid pro quo, that if Tipperary NR got into a similar situation that Clare would help us out."
Mr McKenna said that the arrangement with Clare was subject to agreement from local residents living near the Ballyveney landfill site.
A spokeswoman for the residents, the Ballyveney Environmental Group, said they had no objection to the landfill accepting waste from Clare as long as the local infrastructure is upgraded to cope with the anticipated extra traffic.
The chairman of Clare County Council, Mr Sean Hillery (Fianna Fail) welcomed Tipperary NR's decision.
As the decision date nears in relation to Doora, Mr Hillery said yesterday: "It would not make sense for the EPA to close it next month.
"The EPA have to take cognisance of our situation that the landfill is going to close in June anyway."
