Planning Board grants Usk landfill

The Planning Appeals Board has given permission for a 19 hectare quarry at Usk to be used for storing two million tonnes of waste.

The decision is against the advice of the Board's own inspector, Mary Cuneen. Kildare County Council had previously refused permission.

The landfill will have a life of 10 years under the permission. It is a condition that it be restored to agricultural use after filling is complete.

The public will not be able to dump there, and hazardous or food waste will not be allowed onto the site.

In the application, Greenstar Limited proposed to accept 20,000 tonnes per annum of residual household waste, 60,000 tonnes per annum of industrial waste and 100,000 tonnes per annum of commercial waste.

A further 20,000 tonnes per annum of construction and demolition waste will be received at the site to be used in construction/capping/restoration.

A plan for the preservation of local wildlife is to be provided by the developers.

Greenstar Limited already operates the KTK landfill site at Kilcullen, which is to be closed by 2008. Almost four-fifths of the waste taken in by KTK is from the Greater Dublin Area.

Another County Kildare landfill site at Athurstown, Kill, which is operated for Dublin's waste, will close next year.

Among the objectors to the original Usk application were Usk and District Residents Association Limited.

Brian Byrne.

NOTE: The full report and decision.