Madam, - I wish to respond to a number of comments made by Marcia D'Alton in her article "Excessive incineration capacity planned" (Opinion & Analysis, December 13th).
Hazardous waste producers do indeed deal with their waste on site where possible. However, their incinerators are capable of treating only specific waste streams. As a result Ireland currently depends on other countries to incinerate over 74,000 tonnes of its waste annually.
Ireland's population has increased dramatically over the past 10 years. We have also become a more prosperous nation. It is not surprising that our household and commercial waste has increased.
We are pleased that Ms D'Alton is not against incineration provided the right technology is applied to treat the right waste streams. We would agree with her comment that a rotary kiln is "perfect for hazardous waste".
She will be relieved to know that we also agree with her that our 40,000 tonne-per-annum post-combustion chamber is appropriate for liquid solvents and that a fluidised bed incinerator is perfect for the treatment of sewage sludge.
This is precisely what Indaver intends to use the proposed facility in Ringaskiddy for - the treatment of hazardous and non-hazardous waste such as solvents and sewage sludge.
Ms D'Alton is not correct in her information that Austria incinerates only 513,000 tonnes of waste. Austria incinerates 1.76 million tonnes of waste yearly and plans to incinerate 2.2 million tonnes yearly from 2010. This compares favourably with Irish regional waste management plans. - Yours, etc,
JACKIE KEANEY, Indaver Ireland, Haddington Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Susan Philips (December 16th) asks Marcia D'Alton to show the mothers of Ireland what they are supposed to do with their plastic nappies. Please, someone, do!
Terry nappies are not practicable in my circumstances. The next best option is Eco nappies - something I heartily embraced when my baby was first born, but the cost of which I find more and more difficult to afford. They work out at 60c each and I can get other good quality nappies for only 20c each.
Even at a low estimate of five nappies a day, this is a difference of €2 per day. And there are cheaper, more plasticky nappies out there, which must be the budget option for a lot of people. A realistic estimate is that parents need to spend at least an extra €1,000 a year per baby if they choose an Eco nappy. This is a lot of money. Yet again, the consumer is punished for trying to be responsible.
With a pro-rata tax on plastic on nappies, and tax subsidies for nappies that eschew chlorine and other chemicals in their manufacture, it would make economic sense for shoppers to choose ecologically friendly nappies.
The effect would be swift: high-plastic nappies take at least 200 years to degrade in landfill - whereas an Eco nappy degrades in landfill within two years, and can be composted in ten weeks. - Yours etc,
TERESA MURRAY, The Locks, Ringsend Road, Dublin 4.