Belgian-based Indaver announced today it wants to build two waste incinerators at Ringsakiddy, about 15 kilometres from Cork.
Indaver said they would apply for planning permission to build the first of the two incinerators in June 2001 and if successful it would be operational by 2005.
The announcement will spark fierce debate. Green Party Cork City Councillor Mr Dan Boyle predicted "all hell would be let loose from the community" when they heard of the plans.
"We will be mobilising local opposition to the plan to ensure it remains an idea on paper only," Mr Boyle said.
The first plant could take 100,000 tonnes per annum of hazardous and non-hazardous waste from the commercial sector. Phase two of the plant would take municipal and domestic waste.
But general manager of Indaver Ireland Mr John Ahern said the decision on phase two would be taken only when the waste strategies of the local authorities in the area were known.
Opponents of incineration point to the health risk that accompanies the incineration of waste.
Incineration plants produce highly poisonous dioxins that are harmful even in small amounts. About 40 per cent of the dioxin production in Europe is due to incineration.
But Mr Ahern said when the new European Standards are in place, the effect of incinerators will fall to less than 1 per cent of dioxin production.