Greens reject incinerator for Wicklow

This issue of an incinerator (referred to as "thermal treatment"),was discussed as part of a review of the current County Waste Management Plan which was adopted in 2000. A review of the Plan was drawn up for Wicklow County Council by the engineering consultancy company, M.C. o Sullivans, and this document proposed that "thermal treatment" should be a target for the council to be achieved by 2005.

Councillor de Burca protested that thermal treatment was not a waste management option that had been supported by councillors on Wicklow County Council when they adopted the County Waste Management Plan several years ago.

"While some councillors would not agree to completely rule out the possibility of thermal treatment- or incineration- for Wicklow, we did agree that two thirds of the councillors would have to support the option before we would proceed with it" says de Burca. "I find it incredible that a private consultancy company would include this objective in a review of the Waste Management Plan, without the approval of the councillors".

Councillor de Burca said that the new waste powers given to the County Manager by the current Fianna Fail/PD Government ,meant that the Manager will have complete control over what goes into future County Waste Management Plans.

"It is not impossible that at some stage in the near future the County Manager will decide that Wicklow needs an incinerator to deal with its waste" says de Burca. "If that happens, because of the new powers that have been given to County Managers, there will be nothing that councillors will be able to do to prevent this from happening. This is a very worrying prospect for the people of Wicklow, and one that will be fully resisted by the Green Party".

For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org.