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EU Pollutant Emissions Register and the Slaney Valley in Ireland

Posted by daev

Walsh finds that two of Ireland's biggest polluters are in his neighbourhood...
Update on the Slaney story here »

I read the Irish list of polluters this morning, as listed on the EU Pollutant Emission Register website. I was both appalled, yet unsurprised to find that two of the top 150 polluters in Ireland are less than 2km from where I grew up. It's a stunningly beautiful piece of countryside on the edge of the river Slaney in Wexford, South East Ireland/

One of the polluters is the Rennard pig farm, in Crossabeg. I can remember the stench of slurry whenever the prevailing winds blew up the river. Once, when I was a kid, I went wandering around, and my dog of the time, Oscar, walked on to the encrusted surface of one of the slurry pits. The surface cracked and he fell through, and nearly drowned. He stank for days afterwards.

Also listed is Killurn Landfill, which is really in Crossabeg parish. It's known as the 'county dump' - it's a landfill for domestic waste, the gate of which is about 100m from the pig farm gate. The roads are grey with grime, and escaped rubbish. When people arrive at the dump to get rid of garbage, they often arrive too late, and find it closed. So they drive down our road, and through it in the ditch.

I can remember when the dump started, back in the 80s. There was a huge public outcry from the local community. The dump was next door to The Deeps, an old estate built by Parnellite politician John Redmond in the 19th century. But in the 1980s, it was run as a commune by Friends of the Earth. The local people and the FOE group fought the dump's arrival, but it went ahead anyway, regardless.

It was the craziest planning. Both the slurry pits and the landfills are in... sandpits. How intelligent is that?

Nowadays, hordes of seagulls and crows flood the skies while the bulldozers work. The place stinks, and there's an obvious escape of pollutants and nutrients from both sites - the reed beds at Killurn bridge have almost trebled since my childhood. Somehow though, neither of these spectres have managed to completely overshadow the splendour of the Slaney valley.

Rennard Pig Farms The Deeps/Cornwall Crossabeg: Ammonia, NH3 37,000.00 kg/year
Killurn Landfill: Methane, CH4 2,340,000.00 kg/year

Update on the Slaney story here »

EU Pollutant Emission Register website »

River Slaney picture »
(Both polluting sites are downriver and around the corner, to the left of the picture)

Europe Makes Public Industrial Pollution by Neighborhood »

Name & Shame
Here's a full list of Irish polluters in the European Pollutant Emissions Register(ireland.com):

ADM Ringaskiddy, Ringaskiddy Co Cork

Antone Kiernna, Carrowcushcly Pig Unit, BallymoteCo Sligo

Arch Chemicals BV, Watery Lane, Swords Co Dublin

Arran Chemical Company Ltd, Athlone Co Roscommon

Aughinish Alumina Ltd, Askeaton Co Limerick

Bailieborough Landfill, Bailieborough Co Cavan

Balbane Landfill, Killybegs Co Donegal

Ballaghaderreen Landfill, Aghalustia Co Roscommon

Ballaghveny Landfill, Ballymackey Co Tipperary

Balleally Landfill, Lusk Co Dublin

Ballydonagh Landfill, Dublin Road Athlone

Ballyguyroe Landfill, Mallow Co Cork

Ballymurtagh Landfill, Ballygahan Co Wicklow

Ballynacarrick Landfill, Ballintra Co Donegal

Ballyogan Landfill, Carrickmines Co Dublin

Basketstown Landfill, Summerhill Co Meath

Beamish & Crawford plc, South Main Street Cork

Benduff Landfill, Benduff Co Cork

Brendan Kiernan, Ballyconnell Pig Unit, Co Cavan

Brian Kiernan, Ballymanus Pig Unit, Co Westmeath

Burgos Ltd, Tullyinchin, Cootehill Co Cavan

Carrick-on-Shannon Landfill, Ballynamoney Co Leitrim

Churchtown Landfill, Lifford Co Donegal

Conor O'Brien, Killee, Mitchelstown Co Cork

Corranure Landfill, Cootehill Road Cavan

Dairygold Co-op Ltd, Fermoy Road, Mitchelstown Co Cork

Dairygold Farms Ltd, Loughlohery, Cahir Co Tipperary

Dairygold Farms Ltd, Lissernane , Roscrea Co Tipperary

Derrinumera Landfill, Newport Co Mayo

Derryclure Landfill, Tullamore Co Offaly

Derryconnell Landfill, Schull Co Cork

Donal Brady, Carrickboy Farms, Edgeworthstown Co Longford

Donohill Landfill, Garryshane, Donohill Co Tipperary

Doora Landfill, Ballaghboy, Gaurus CoClare

Dublin Bay Power Ltd and Ringsend Generating Station,

Pigeon House Road Dublin

Dundalk Landfill, Newry Road, Dundalk Co Louth

Dungarvan Waste Disposal Site, Co Waterford

Dunmore Landfill, Dunmore Co Kilkenny

Dunsink Landfill, Finglas Co Dublin

East Cork Landfill, Rossmore, Carrigtohill Co Cork

Edenderry Power Ltd, Ballykilleen, Edenderry Co Offaly

ESB Marina Generating Station, Centre Park Road Cork

ESB Great Island Generating Station, Campile Co Wexford

ESB Bellacorick Generating Station, Ballina Co Mayo

ESB Poolbeg Generating Station, Pigeon House Road Dublin

ESB Tarbert Generating Station, Tarbert Co Kerry

ESB Moneypoint Generating Station, Kilrush Co Clare

ESB North Wall Generating Station, Alexandra Road Dublin

ESB Shannonbridge Generating Station, Co Westmeath

ESB Lanesborough Generating Station, Co Longford

Eli Lilly SA, Dunderrow, Kinsale Co Cork

ESB Aghada Generating Station, Whitegate Co Cork

Future Pigs Ltd, Nurney Co Kildare

Glanbia Agribusiness, Liscolman, Shillelagh Co Wicklow

Glanbia Farms Ltd, Gedney, Rearymore, Rosenallis Co Laois

Glanbia Farms Ltd, Kiltynaskellan, Doogarry Co Cavan

Glanbia Farms Ltd, Clonaslee Pig Unit, Corbally Co Laois

Glen of Aherlow Pig Producers Co-Op, Bansha Co Tipperary

Glenalla Landfill Site, Milford Co Donegal

Golden Vale Food Products Ltd, Charleville Co Cork

Gortadroma Landfill, Ballyhahill Co Limerick

Hanrahan Farms Ltd, Kilmore, Kilmallock Co Limerick

Heineken Ireland Ltd, Lady's Well Brewery Cork

Hewlett Packard Ltd, Barnhall, Leixlip Co Kildare

Huntstown Power Company Ltd, Mulhuddart Co Dublin

IFI- Marino Point, Cobh Co Cork

Intel Ireland Ltd, Leixlip Co Kildare

Irish Cement Ltd, Platin Works, Drogheda Co Louth

Irish Cement Ltd, Castlemungret Co Limerick

Irish Fertilizer Industries Ltd, Arklow Co Wicklow

Irish Refining Ltd, Whitegate Co Cork

Irish Sugar plc, Kilvealton, Mallow Co Cork

Jack and David Ronan, Castleblake, Rosegreen Co Tipperary

Jack and David Ronan, Turbeagh, Mitchelstown Co Cork

Jack Marry, Danestown, Navan Co Meath

James and Nuala Gleeson, Ballymackey, Nenagh Co Tipperary

James Briody, Drumloman, Kilnaleck Co Cavan

James King, Lacken, Ballinagh, Co Cavan

James McGrath, Ballynameelagh, Cappagh Co Waterford

James O'Brien, Ballintubbrid East, Carrigtwohill Co Cork

Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd, Little Island Co Cork

Jimmy Foran, Reatagh, Carrick-on-Suir Co Waterford

John Murphy, Clondrisse Pig Farm, Killynan Co Tipperary

John Queally, Matthewstown, Fenor Co Waterford

John Ronan & Sons, Dudley's Mills, Clonmel Co Tipperary

Kerdiffstown Landfill, Naas Co Kildare

Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd, Listowel Co Kerry

Kevin Kiernan, Aghafad Sow Unit, Kilnaleck Co Cavan

Kilbarry Landfill,Kilbarry Co Waterford

Killurin Landfill, Newtown Lower, Killurin, Co Wexford

Kilmurry Landfill, Kilmurry South, Bray Co Wicklow

Kinsale Road Landfill, Ballyphehane Co Cork

KTK Landfill Ltd, Brownstown, Kilcullen Co Kildare

Kyletalesha Landfill, Clonsoughy Co Laois

Lagan Pigs Ltd, Belturbet Co Cavan

Laragan Farms Ltd, Elphin Co Roscommon

Loctite (Ireland) Ltd, Whitestown, Tallaght Co Dublin

Loctite (Ireland) Ltd, Kylemore Park, BallyfermotCo Dublin

Longpavement, Monabraher Co Limerick

Loughquin Ltd, Castletownroche Co Cork

Luke Bogue, Dreenan Co Cavan

Mallinckrodt Medical Imaging, Mulhuddart Co Dublin

Marlinstown Landfill, Mullingar Co Westmeath

Marry Sow Unit, Littlegrange, Drogheda Co Louth

Martin O'Donovan, Cooligboy,TimoleagueCo Cork

Maurice O'Brien, Derrynanool, Mitchelstown Co Cork

Merck Sharp & Dohme (Ireland) Ltd, Clonmel Co Tipperary

Jack and David Ronan, Carraig, Glenville Co Cork

Maurice and Ian Tierney, Ballinamult Co Waterford

Michael Caffrey, Polleragh, Mountnugent Co Cavan

Michael Monagle, Annakisha, Doneraile Co Cork

Michell Ireland Ltd, Killowen, Portlaw Co Waterford

Macroom Mills Farm Ltd, Grenagh Co Cork

Mohill Landfill, Tullybardan Co Leitrim

Moy Isover Ltd, Ardfinnan, Clonmel Co Tipperary

John Kiernan, Lismagiril Pig Unit, Virginia Co Cavan

Maurice O'Brien, Corracunna, Mitchelstown Co Cork

Muckish Landfill,Falcarragh Co Donegal

North Kerry Landfill,Tralee Co Kerry

Padraig Kiernan, Gortavoher, Bansha Co Tipperary

Patrick Moore, Rath East, Tullow Co Wicklow

Patrick O'Keeffe, Mitchelstown Co Cork

Penn Racquet Sports (Ireland), Mullingar, Co Westmeath

Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Little Island Co Cork

Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Ringaskiddy Co Cork

Pharmacia and Upjohn Ltd, Inchera, Little Island, Co Cork

Pollboy Landfill, Ballinasloe Co Galway

Powerstown Landfill,Powerstown Co Carlow

Premier Periclase Ltd, Boyne Road, Drogheda Co Louth

Quinn Cement Ltd, Ballyconnell Co Cavan

Raffeen Landfill, Kerrycurrihy Co Cork

Rathroeen Landfill, Ballina Co Mayo

Rennard Pig Farms Ltd, Crossabeg Co Wexford

Roscommon Landfill,Killarney Townland Co Roscommon

Sara Lee (Ireland) Ltd, Park Road, Killarney Co Kerry

Schering-Plough, Rathdrum Co Wicklow

Scotch Corner Landfill, Castleblaney Co Monaghan

Sean Norton, Rathbeg, Gortnahoe, Thurles Co Tipperary

Shannon Environmental Services, Shannon Co Clare

SmithKline Beecham, Currabinny, Carrigaline Co Cork

Sunglen Ltd, Threecastles Co Kilkenny

Swords Laboratories, Watery Lane, Swords Co Dublin

T J Hanrahan and JK Walshe, Rosbog, Aherlow Co Tipperary

Thomas A Norton, Gragaugh, Ballingarry Co Tipperary

T O'Reilly and R O'Brien, Clonmel Co Tipperary

Tom Horan, Ballyculhane, Glin Co Limerick

Toomevarra Farms Ltd, Toomevara, Nenagh Co Tipperary

Tramore Waste Disposal Site, Tramore Co Waterford

Vincent Corcoran, Finnea Farms, Kilgolagh Co Cavan

Weyerhaeuser Europe Ltd, Clonmel Co Tipperary

Whiteriver Landfill, Dunleer Co Louth

Woodville Pig Farms Ltd, Ballymackey, Nenagh Co Tipperary

Yamanouchi Ireland, Damastown, Mulhuddart Co Dublin

Youghal Landfill, Youghal Co Cork

Posted by daev at February 24, 2004 6:01 PM

That's a lovely river. What river can't use a little more pig poo? Isn't that what goldfish food is made out of? I'll bet the trout are 41/2 feet long by now with legs and scorpion like stingers on their tails. Now that's good fishin!

The trout aren't too bad. There's feck all salmon anymore tho, and certainly no bass. In (counts fingers) 1985 I caught an 8lb bass off Killurn bridge, less than a kilometre away from both sites - and this is about 10km up the top end of an estuary! We still get seals up there too.

I used to go pony trekking up by the River Slaney in my youth. Had a pony try to roll into one of the slurry pits you mentioned! I know what it's like though, on a hot day with the right wind I can smell the KTK landfill in Kildare even though it's the far side of the town! That and the mutant rats they have - urgh!

You are being misleading here. This is not a full list of top polluters, and is not a cause for naming and shaming.

Industrial activity with a significant environmental impact is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Firms are obliged to apply for a IPC license. As part of the that licence they agree to measure key emissions for the Pollution Emissions Register. They choose which substances to track. The purpose of the Register is to increase knowledge. At the EU level we will increase knowledge of these emissions and their generation. At the level of the firm it has been found that tracking emissions often leads to the discovery of ways to reduce emissions.

So the Register is NOT a full list of Ireland's top polluters and there is no naming and shaming to be done. There could be and probably are unlicensed acticivities that are far worse polluters. Also, your list is of firms that have complied with the regulations and returned information to the Register. To name and shame you need to follow up with the EPA on prosecutions for breaches of permitted emission levels.

All industrial activity pollutes. All personal consumption pollutes. We like to ignore these unpleasant facts and then have a knee jerk reaction when we are reminded that of them. Villifying responsible firms is not an answer.

I want more MILK POWDER OF KERRY INGREDIENTS CHAR