Cork city and county is to have one major landfill site to replace a number of others dotted around the region, a joint meeting of Cork Corporation and Cork County Council has been told.
A decision on the location of the dump will not be made until about September, but undoubtedly its location will give rise to controversy.
For some time the city and county local authorities have recognised that the growing waste problem in Cork would have to be dealt with. Last year, a geographic information system survey identified several areas for the new landfill site, but these have not yet been revealed.
The local authorities say the new dump will be constructed to the highest environmental standards and will be subject to a detailed examination by the Environmental Protection Agency. The examination will include the application of economic, transport and operational criteria. The site selection will be the subject later this month of a special forum, including members of the two local authorities, representing a broad spectrum of representatives from the city and county.
It is planned that waste transfer stations will be put in place at strategic locations in the city and county at which materials will be separated for recycling and composting before the final residue is taken to the new landfill site.