GALWAY for a SAFE ENVIRONMENT
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Thursday, February 17th, 2000
GALWAY BAY FM - LOCAL NEWS DESK Galway for a Safe Environment (GSE) Residents for a Responsible Waste Management Policy Thursday, February 17th, 2000 GSE Reply to MC O'Sullivan - All Incinerator Ash is Hazardous to some Extent GSE Cite Netherlands Building Materials Decree, 1995 Specifies Incinerator Bottom Ash Must not Come in Contact with Water "There is no such thing as non-hazardous ash from an incinerator", according to the Galway for a Safe Environment (GSE) group, who were replying to an accusation last week from consultants MC O'Sullivan, that the group was guilty of "misinformation", over the tonnage of toxic ash likely to be produced under the controversial incinerator proposal. GSE spokesman, Dr. Conchúr Ó Brádaigh, said that all ash will contain varying amounts of toxic substances, such as dioxins, furans and heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead etc. Approximately 5% of the rubbish burnt will be highly toxic, as fly ash, and this will have to be stored in a Class 1 toxic landfill, which the EPA is proposing to site, at an unspecified site. A further 25% of the rubbish burnt, comes out as bottom ash, and it is this 50,000 tonnes per annum that GSE are particularly concerned about, as it is planned to landfill it in East Galway" Dr. Ó Brádaigh referred in particular to the Dutch Building Materials Decree of 1985, which allows the use of this bottom ash, in the construction of roads, but only subject to measures which virtually rule out any contact of that building material with rainwater or groundwater when that material is used. "This is clearly because of the concerns that hazards exist from leaching of toxic substances from the bottom ash into the ground water, substances such as dioxins, furans and heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, lead etc. A recent EU study, entitled EU Dioxin Exposure and Health Data, had linked exposure to dioxins with a range of health risks, including liver damage, suppression of the immune system, formation of cancers and abnormalities in foetal development. The EU study also said that leaching of dioxin from ash in landfills may well be one of the most important sources of dioxin in the future. "It is also time for these consultants to explain to the people of East Galway in particular just how they are going to manage the 50,000 tonnes of bottom ash they are proposing to landfill there, and how they are going to isolate it from all water, groundwater and rainwater". Ends The Connacht Draft Waste Management Plan will be open for submissions to the public until March 31st. The Galway Local Authorities announced last October that they had selected four sites for the controversial incinerator, three in Castlegar Parish, and one at Galway Docks. Galway for a Safe Environment are asking people to write to their local representatives opposing the proposed incinerator, and to make submissions to the plan. Confirmation: Conchúr Ó Brádaigh, 087-2830452 Áine Suttle, 091-581047 <!-- HTML Markup endspan --> </td> </tr> </table> <a name=bottom></a> </body> </html>