COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, June 09, 2015

MOTION NO. 1

MOTION: Councillor D. Looney

"That this Committee expresses its deep concern at recent complaints made by residents regarding noise, visual amenity, smell, operating hours and other issues at the Keywaste facility located off the Greenhills Rd at the rear of St Columba's Rd/St Bridget's Drive; that we request an immediate report on the role of the Council and all other relevant agencies in granting permissions, licencing and monitoring the site; that we receive a report on all complaints dealt with by this Council or agencies linked to this Council related to the site; and that the EPA and other agencies are contacted to inform them of our concerns."

REPORT:

Waste disposal and recovery activities in Ireland are required to hold an authorisation in accordance with the Waste Management Act 1996 as amended.  

A four tier system of authorisation has been established for the regulation of such activities at a facility.  A waste recovery or disposal activity at a facility is either:

• an exempted activity (no authorisation required), or
• requires a Waste (or IPPC) licence, or
• requires a Waste Facility Permit, or
• requires a Waste Certificate of Registration / Registration Certificate.

Depending on the authorisation required these activities are controlled either by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or by Local Authorities within their own areas.  All non-exempted Local Authority waste facility activities are regulated by the EPA. 

The Environmental Protection Agency is the competent authority for granting and enforcing waste licences for specified waste activities listed in the 3rd and 4th Schedule to the Waste Management Act 1996 as amended. 

The Keywaste Management Waste Limited Facility, Greenhills Road, Walkinstown, Dublin 12 is a Waste Transfer Station and the  waste activities at this facility operates under EPA Licence Register No: WOO45-01 which is subject to eleven conditions, with the reasons and the associated schedules set out in the licence.

5 Complaints regarding Keywaste Management Waste Limited Facility have been reported to South Dublin County Council since 1st January 2014.  These have been referred by South Dublin County Council to the Environmental Protection Agency for action as the EPA is the authority responsible for the enforcement of the licence granted to the facility.

The EPA website (www.epa.ie) maintains a register of all waste licences and facilitates individuals who wish to make a complaint regarding an EPA licensed using an online complaints form.

Inspectors respond to incidents and emergencies at licensed facilities as they occur to assist in minimising any environmental impacts. Complaints regarding licensed facilities are reviewed by Inspectors, to ensure that licensed facilities address these complaints and proactively communicate to individuals and local communities the actions taken to minimise any impact associated with their facilities. 

The 5 main areas resulting in non-­compliance for the waste sector are; 

1.    Waste management  

-­-      Stockpiling of waste/prolonged storage

-­-      Leachate escaping to yard drains

-­-      Unauthorised outdoor processing and waste storage

-­-      Inadequate segregation of wastes

-­-      Onsite infilling with waste

-­-      Acceptance of unauthorised waste & use of unauthorised hauliers and destinations

 2.    Miscellaneous

-­-      Damaged hard standing

-­-      Drainage not colour coded

-­-      Scavenging permitted onsite 

-­-      Inadequate waste characterisation and inappropriate use of EWC codes

 3.    Nuisance (Odours)

 4.    Documentation and procedures 

-­-      Late or non-­-submission of Annual Environmental Report

-­-      Waste records not available for inspection or incomplete 

-­-      Accident Prevention Procedure not available 

-­-     Odour Management Plan not available

 5.    Failure to provide/install infrastructure

-­-      No dust curtains or doors on waste building

-­-      Failure to provide appropriate drainage

-­-      No quarantine area

-­-      Failure to maintain adequate negative air pressure on the WTS building.

 Enforcement activities carried out by EPA Inspectors involve inspections, audits and emission monitoring. Inspectors assess the results of emissions monitoring carried out at licensed facilities to determine the impact, if any, of emissions on the environment. These enforcement activities help to ensure:   

• That the licences as issued are complied with to the greatest possible extent.
• That the required abatement equipment and infrastructure is in place to ensure that the environment is protected.
• That the required management structures are in place to prevent pollution from taking place.
• That the required monitoring is completed and available to any interested parties.
• That appropriate enforcement action is taken in a coherent, consistent, objective and timely manner.
• Those enforcement actions are communicated to all stakeholders including the general public.