Background: The first suggestion that an incinerator could be built in the north-east came towards the end of 2000 when rumour had it landowners around Duleek were being approached to see if they had land to sell or lease to allow for an incinerator to be built.
In November 2000, Indaver Ireland announced its plan to apply for planning permission for a waste-management facility between Duleek and Drogheda and confirmed it would include an incinerator.
Two months later the planning application was lodged with Meath County Council. The local community formed the No Incineration Alliance, an umbrella group for concerned residents, farmers, parents, business people and others concerned about the environment and their health.
A petition was signed by more than 26,000 and handed in to Meath County Council. In addition, 4,500 individual objections were lodged.
In July 2001 the council granted permission subject to 30 conditions, including the stipulation that it could only accept municipal waste from Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan, the area covered by the North East Waste Management Plan.
That plan, which Louth did not adopt and the Louth county manager instead used his executive powers to approve, includes thermal treatment for waste not sent to landfill or recycling.
Indaver Ireland says the Carranstown facility will service the north-east region, which generates 500,000 tonnes of waste a year. "The incinerator has a capacity to treat 30 per cent of the waste generated in the region, leaving 70 per cent available for other technologies," Indaver says. "The development is in line with the North East Regional Waste Plan, which calls for a thermal treatment plant for 150,000-200,000 tonnes of residual waste in addition to more recycling facilities and community recycling parks," it said.
It will cost €85 million, employ 50, and is expected to start in 2006. The incinerator is a waste-to-energy facility and has the capacity to produce enough electricity to power all the homes in Drogheda and Navan, according to the company. Meath County Council made it a condition that the company obtain permission from the ESB to connect to the national grid and that it receive the appropriate waste management licence from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Within hours of the council announcing its decision, NIA and other opponents pledged to fight for an oral hearing with An Bord Pleanála. Among those who lodged appeals, in addition to NIA, and who attended the oral hearing last year were the former Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton, and a former Attorney General, Mr John Rogers.