Galway Advertiser Newspaper
(Page 24, February
19th 2004 Edition)
Letter to Editor from Ann Marie Kelly
Recycling offer rejected. Why?
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Dear Editor,
I was surprised to learn at last Mondays Public Anti
Dump meeting held in Wards of Ballyfa that an English company with a
very impressive track record of managing and recycling waste for over
250 million people world wide (Sam Sire Recycling Company) offered to
finance, build and run a recycling plant capable of managing all the
waste from Co Galway.
The really good thing about this offer is that there would be no need
at all for either of the two things most people are very anxious to
avoid: superdumps and incinerators.
This company would guarantee to recycle 50% ,compost
30% and at first landfill the remaining 20% with a commitment to seek
alternatives other than landfill for this 20%. This offer was rejected
by Galway Co. Co in 2001.
When asked why this proposal was rejected Mr Noel
Tracy (TD) claimed Sam Shire Recycling Company did not state where
their intended site would be. This answer seemed ridiculous to me
because in order to follow proper procedure the site selection process
would have to follow the procedures set out in the Aarhus Convention
Agreement: which would not allow the kind of secret deals which rival
company Celtic Waste entered into with local landowners in
Kilconnell.
It would appear that Sam Shire Recycling Company were
penalised for following proper procedure.
In contradiction to what Noel Treacy (TD) claimed,
it emerged later in the meeting that Sam Sire Recycling Company had
specified Poolboy as their proposed site.
Had this sensible proposal from Sam Shire been accepted
by Galway Co. Co, it would have eliminated the need for the two
superdumps that are now being forced onto the New Inn and Kilconnell
communities. Because the volume of waste entering Poolboy landfill
would be reduced by at least 80%, it would mean that Poolboy landfill
could remain open for an extra 6 or 7 years at least. By that time
this recycling company would have identified alternatives to landfill
for the remaining 20% and reach a Zero Waste target by 2015.
Rather than accept the Sam Shire proposition, it seems
the Galway Co Manager decided to impose the much more profitable
superdumps plan onto the people of East Galway against their wishes
- which Galway Co Co will now try to cash in on to the tune of as much
as €500,000 per day possibly, all at the expense of the New Inn and
Kilconnell communities. Then there will be the incinerators to follow,
with more big profits, and soft jobs for the boys as well.
I believe that the County Manager should now explain to
the people of East Galway - without delay - why he did not accept the
offer from Sam Sire Recycling Company that he received in 2001?
Is Mise
Ann Marie Kelly
Killaan Woodlawn Ballinasloe Co Galway
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