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Report indicates years left in Youghal landfill tenure. – By Christy Parker
5 comments | 
YOUGHAL LANDFILL is set to remain open for several more years according to figures released by Cork County Council. A report to the January sitting of the county council’s Southern Committee, cite the Foxhole site as now processing an average of 500 tonnes of waste per week.
This is a massive decease from the weekly average of 4,000 tonnes in 2007. With a remaining capacity for 70,000 tons, the site would not close for almost six years at the current rate of intake. This completely contradicts forecasts circulated by the county council in recent years that full capacity and closure were imminent.
The report was requested by County Manager Martin Riordan after Cllr Barbara Murray raised the issue at January’s County Council meeting. The councillor says a further report on Volatile Orgaic Carbon (VOC) –dealing with leaking gas emmisions- is now also imminent from a study completed before Christmas.
CHANGES
In the wider context, the Southern Committee was informed that the reduced intake had incited a number of changes to the Youghal landfill since November 2010. These included non-delivery of waste on Saturdays, the working face reduced to eight metres by 20 metres, from the 25m by 25m allowed under license, plus an increased workforce.
The report proceeds that Cork County Council continuously monitors the landfill and deals with issues as they arise. It says the authority had carried out several projects, in agreement with the EPA, to improve the gas management system on the site. These were: Repair of a liner that had been damaged at well heads due to settlement; additional flaring capacity provided to increase the capacity from 2300cu m/hr to 3100 cu m/hr.;16 vertical gas wells in cell 9 -the last cell on the site- drilled to improve the gas extraction from the cell; additional litter netting provided.
ESCAPED GASES
Elaborating, the report says the 16 wells were drilled in November/December 2010 “and by its nature disturbed older waste and allowed the escape of some gases.” It seems unlikely that this explanation will soothe the ire of townspeople subjected to the obnoxious odours thus disturbed, while the fact that the county council did not inform them of this work at all may be viewed both as poor public relations and a considerable, if unsurprising, insult.
In any case, the town is informed that “each well was completed as quickly as possible to limit the period where gas could escape” and that additional spraying to control the odours was carried out during the work. The wells came into operation on December 17th “and the benefits of this works should now be evident,” the report decides.
CHARGES AT YOUGHAL LANDFILL / CIVIC AMENITY
Thereafter, a private firm was engaged to conduct the Volatile Organic Carbon (VOC) survey. Should this report identify any areas requiring further works, the situation will be “dealt with immediately,” the report assures. Meanwhile, “the gas management plant is continually monitored,” with staff alerted via text if a problem arises the better that they can “deal with these via their computers remotely or by going to site if required.” Interestingly, the coming week, says the report, should see Cork County Council invite tenders from private quarters interested in utilising the gas “for the generation of electricity or other use.”
Against the background of this information, it needs reminding that when the landfill eventually does close, Cork County Council will bear a statutory obligation to manage it thereafter, until all gases are flared off. This is expected to take up to 25 years. The report quotes the council as saying it will provide the required funding.
CHARGES AT YOUGHAL LANDFILL / CIVIC AMENITY
The same report updates landfill charges and notes that prior to July 2010 larger quantities of black bag waste, such as trailers, pickups, etc. were accepted at Youghal for landfilling and charged the appropriate rate by weight, of €165/tonne. In July the law required that all waste be “treated” (segregated) prior to landfilling, with the effect that black bag waste would only be accepted at the civic amenity site rate of €0.60/kilogram, as the report puts it, without conversion.
Outlining the changes in this area, the Southern Committee were informed as follows: The rates for black bag waste at Civic Amenity Sites in 2010 were the €3 entry fee plus:- Standard Black Bag €7; large Black Bag €14; 240l Wheelie Bin €21; €0.60 per kilogram. Following the 2011 budget the entry fee remains unchanged and the black bag charges revised as Standard Black Bag €4; Large Black Bag €8; 240l Wheelie Bin €12; €0.50 per kilogram.
5 comments |
500 tonnes per week is 26,000 tonnes per year.
3 years at 500 tons per week is 78,000 tonnes. So as usual someone is pulling the figures of 70,000 tonnes over 6 years out of their arse. 3 years is also a long ways from the “almost six years” as Christy quoted above.
Now I’m not blaming Christy for his report as he is merely reporting what he was informed but someone is talking an enormous amount of sh*te, and sh*te is what the people of Youghal have to deal with day in and day out with the odours coming from the dump.
If proof were needed that some echelons of the civil service is populated by clueless idiots then one need look no further than Martin Riordan who obviously commissioned some trained monkeys to create the report and then couldn’t be bothered to check the facts himself. Elementery maths is not his strong point and nor is managing a County. Obviously.
Could somebody please tell me what Volatile Organic Carbon is and how does it affect us? Thanks, Concerned
From wikipedia: (Carbon in the article above is more than likely an error should be Compound)
“Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) refers to organic chemical compounds which have significant vapor pressures and which can affect the environment and human health. VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. Although VOCs include both man-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds, it is the anthropogenic VOCs that are regulated, especially for indoors where concentrations can be highest. VOCs are typically not acutely toxic but have chronic effects. Because the concentrations are usually low and the symptoms slow to develop, analysis of VOCs and their effects is a demanding area.”
Firstly, my sincere thanks to Yawl Native for highlighting and outlining the effects and dangers present at our Landfill site. Do we know what kind of priority is being put on this increasingly worrying subject? David Stanton’s lack of a direct response to the issues being raised is not unexpected but alarming nonetheless. I believe it is now down to the local residents to raise their concerns and voice them at every opportunity until answers are forthcoming regarding the effects on our health from the gases being leaked at the moment, how this will be managed, and of course a major two fingers to the blatant audacity of Cork County Council’s plans to keep this landfill open regardless. We need action on this. The time for talk and statements is over. Wake up Youghal! Sean O’Tuama
Hello, the three issues I feel are going to affect Youghal the most, now and in the coming years are a) the quality and timing of information being given to Youghal Council from Cork County Council regarding relevant works/issues at the landfill that are impacting on the local environment b) the effective monitoring of hazardous gases from this site ie those known to be carcinogenic or dangerous to our health and c) the immediate implementation of a cohesive plan by Cork County Council that deals with the effective future management of this zone. Thank You, Frank Walsh