Local people have called for an environmental impact study to measure the effects of an ancillary development planned for Donegal International Airport.
Residents of Carrickfin and Ranafast have formed committees opposing plans by Udaras na Gaeltachta to allow a Swedish company to locate beside the airport in west Donegal.
AVI Paint Ltd, trading as Aerpeint Teo, plans to bring aircraft to a 31,000 sq ft hangar adjoining the airport for stripping and repainting. The company says the waste might amount to about 5kg per aircraft.
Local people are objecting to the plans on environmental grounds, believing the water used in the stripping process may be discharged into the sea, that fumes may be released into the atmosphere and that the arrival of Aerpeint Teo would result in further industrial development in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Mr Michael Gillespie, a local solicitor who represents some of the residents, said: "This is a special area of conservation, with classic sand-dune formation, the best in Europe. We have one of the cleanest beaches anywhere in the country. We are not prepared to stand by and see all that destroyed."
A letter signed by 150 people who are objecting to the development is to be sent to Donegal County Council.
Dr Hugh Hunglung, of Aerpeint Teo, has said that those involved in the stripping process would wear specialist suits and breathing equipment and that the process is completely non-toxic. The waste was minimal, he said, and would be disposed of properly.
Dr Huglung added that the company was coming to Donegal because of the grants available and the access to labour.