Wicklow's Waste Crisis

At a recent seminar on the waste issue organised by Wicklow Green Party councillor Deidre DeBurca several speakers explained the reality of various aspects of the waste crisis from plastic bags to illegal dumping.

According to councillor DeBurca the financial cost of disposing of waste effects householders in many ways. "Litter destroys and defaces the environment. Waste pollutes the coastline. Illegal dumps spring up around the county and people living next to them have to put up with unacceptable noise levels, foul smells and contamination of local water supplies", said DeBurca.

According to Karen Dubsky, co-ordinator of Coastwatch Ireland and a speaker at the seminar, real action is easily possible with even a minimum of political will. For example, coastwatch surveys conducted elsewhere in Europe show that the numbers of plastic bottles washed up along beaches drops significantly within months of regulations being introduced to make plastic bottles returnable.

Waste issues have also been a source of deep contention between elected county councillors and council management. The now infamous Redcross Pet Crematorium issue, concerning the disposal of animal remains, is a waste issue in which the county manager overruled the elected representatives citing inappropriate speeches at a council meeting debating the matter.

Fianna Fail Deputy Dick Roche has also run up against Council management in his attempt to appoint independent auditors to examine the Council's Waste Management Programme. The management insisted that the Minister of the Environment's permission would be required before an auditor could be appointed. However the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsy, has denied this, stating that the council has full legal authority to appoint an independent auditor.

In response to the Minister's statement Deputy Roche said "Now we will be able to get answers to some serious questions about waste management in County Wicklow, including answers to outstanding questions about Ballymurtagh, Ballinagran and about the level of charges".

However answers, however welcome, will not make the waste go away. As Ballymurtagh reaches capacity Wicklow faces the prospect of choking on its own waste and a dramatic increase in waste disposal charges. Whatever emerges from seminars and audits one thing is clear. The waste issue, like the plastic bags, potato peelings, newspapers and broken appliances that create it, is not going away.

WicklowToday.com Survey What is the primary solution to Wicklow's waste crisis? Landfill Incineration Recycling Reduction View result without voting