THE new landfill site in Meath will not be a super dump or a regional dump, the county manager has insisted.
Mr Roibeard O Ceallaigh told a council meeting yesterday. "Many unfounded allegations and statements have been made on the subject." Councillors were shown a video outlining why a new landfill is required.
About 53,000 tonnes of waste is produced in Meath each year. The present site at Basketstown will be full in three years and fails to meet EU requirements for landfills. Councillors were told the tiphead will be between 50 and 60 acres. Extra land will be needed for access roads and a buffer zone of additional land.
Consultants M.J. O'Sullivan are currently carrying out tests at four locations in Meath to see if they are suitable for a new landfill. The areas under consideration are:
Wilkinstown, north of Navan Beauparc and Seneschalstown townlands, north east of Navan and Skreen and Redbog, both on the road from Navan to Dunshaughlin.
A recommendation may be given at next month's council meeting. Protest groups have been formed at each of the possible locations.
The local Fianna Fail TD, Ms Mary Wallace, says constituents are worried about a "super dump" being created as 10,000 tonnes of waste from outside the county is dumped at Basketstown each year.
Strongly rebutting allegations that the new landfill would be a super dump, Mr O'Ceallaigh said. "There is no power in the land to compel Meath County Council to become a regional facility and there are no plans for it either".
However, replying to a Democratic Left councillor, Mr Christy Gorman, the county engineer, Mr Oliver Perkins, said the ground water below the existing dump is heavily contaminated but steps have been taken to prevent leakage.