Environmental activist warns of incinerator 'threat' THE new Poolbeg incinerator could have serious health implications for Northside residents living downwind of the project, a local environmentalist has claimed.
Bronwen Maher, a member of the Labour Party and former Green Party councillor, warned locals not to be complacent about the incinerator under construction at Ringsend.
Ms Maher has issued a “serious health warning” to Northside residents who believe the proposed mass burn incinerator will not affect them.
She claimed the incinerator would emit dioxins and other highly toxic contaminants downwind towards Clontarf, Sutton, Baldoyle and Howth.
“There are real concerns over the impact this incinerator will have on the health of the local population,” Ms Maher told Northside People.
“Air quality levels in the area will deteriorate with the amount of traffic going to and from the incinerator plant. 
“Furthermore, I believe there was not an adequate assessment of the impact of the development on human health.”
Ms Maher said she did not believe incineration as an option was a bad thing as exporting waste is unsustainable.
However, she believes the plant may prove to be extremely costly for local residents and the taxpayer. 
“When I was on Dublin City Council the issue of the proposed incinerator was an ongoing item for discussion,” she added. 
“My position was that the plant would be over capacity and in the wrong location for transport reasons.”
A spokesman for Dublin City Council said the Dublin waste to energy facility completed extensive statutory assessments by both An Bord Pleanala and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
He pointed out that these addressed the issues of health, traffic and environmental concerns. 
“The EPA will be responsible for the enforcement of the waste licence for the facility which will be operated to EU Directive and EPA licence limits, ensuring that there will be no negative impact on public health or the environment,” he told Northside People.
“In accordance with the requirements of the waste licence, real time data from the facility’s online monitoring system and weekly summaries of continuous emissions monitoring data will be made available to reassure the public that the facility will operate within EU Directive and EPA licence limits.
“In addition, Dublin City Council will impose financial penalties on Covanta, the operators of the Dublin waste to energy plant, for any failure to comply with these strict legal requirements.” 
The spokesman said the majority of the waste going to the plant would access the site via the M50 and Dublin Port Tunnel.
“Approximately, 120 truck movements to and from the site have not had any noticeable adverse effect on traffic,” he added.
Work began on the controversial site last December.
Meanwhile, Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan (Lab) has called on Dublin City Council to explain the impact of the Poolbeg incinerator on Dublin North East residents.
Deputy Broughan is demanding assurances that the thousands of tonnes of waste planned to be processed at the site will not damage the health of his constituents across the bay.
“The City Manager [John Tierney] needs to explain what measures, if any, the city council is taking to address any serious health, traffic and environmental concerns regarding the proposed Poolbeg incinerator,” he stated.
“Constituents have raised concerns with me over the possible health and environmental impact of the proposed Poolbeg incinerator, especially as Dublin North East is directly downstream of the planned facility.”
Deputy Broughan said the local authority assured him that traffic, health and other environmental items were all addressed during the statutory processes leading to the issuing of the planning permission and the EPA licence.
“I believe that alongside the strict legal permissions and licences that have been approved, Dublin City Council should now clearly come out and reassure residents in Dublin North East on what wider measures have been taken to alleviate the potentially profound downstream effect of this vast new industrial site,” he added.
“In particular we need to know that when the plant is up and running that there will be ongoing strict monitoring of any emissions across Dublin Bay and over the Howth Malahide ward in particular. 
“Mr Tierney should now spell out how precisely this invigilation system will operate and where the monitoring stations will be.”