ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND AWARENESS

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• Waste Management
• Education & Awareness
• Water Quality
• Water Safety
• Air Quality
• Burial Grounds
• Service Indicators

 

Waste Management

Dunmore Landfill

• Dunmore Landfill received a new licence from the Environmental Protection Agency, reg. no. 30/2 to extend the life of the present site by 150,000 tonnes.
• The amount of waste deposited at the landfill reduced by 41% in 2002.
• Commercial waste deposited has reduced by 57%, with industrial waste reduced by 85%, which shows the continuing resolve of the commercial and industrial sector to comply with the Waste Management Packing Regulations and reduce the amount of waste consigned to landfill.
• Extensive development work commenced at the site including two new lined cells, a new entrance from the N77 and Kilkenny's first civic amenity site.
• Meetings with the local area committee continued to discuss the operation of the facility and disseminate information on the operation of the facility. Two newsletters were produced and distributed to the local community.
• €22,500 was collected from the gate fee at the Landfill to assist in the financing of a project to benefit the local community.
• In June 2002, a €15 government levy was applied to the gate fee. This fee is paid to central government who redistribute the money to grant aid waste management initiatives around the country. Kilkenny County Council received approval in the amount of €457,000 to develop bring facilities and the civic amenity site at Dunmore Landfill.
• In June 2002 Kilkenny County Council employed a landfill manager based on the site to ensure that the terms of the licence are being met and that the facility is being operated such as not to cause nuisance.

Fully lined Cell 11a at Dunmore Landfill, developed during 2002.

 

Waste Management Acts 1996

Ten notices under Sections 55 and 18 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 were served in 2002. In the case of seven of the sites the notices were complied with and the information provided and / or site cleared. The other cases are awaiting further information from the landowners.

Five parties were brought to court for offences under the Waste Management Act, 1996. These cases resulted in:

• in two cases - fine and costs imposed for the operation of un-authorised waste facilities.
• a substantial fine plus costs for the unauthorised storage of waste.
• a fine plus costs for the unauthorised collection of waste.
• an order to comply with a section 18 notice regarding unauthorised dumping of waste, the fine is pending in this case.

 

Waste Management (Permit) Regulations, 1998

Twenty eight applications for waste permits were made under the Waste Management (Permit) Regulations, 1998 for facilities in County Kilkenny in 2002. Seventeen waste permits were granted in 2002. The majority of these (eleven) were for the recovery of clay and topsoil to restore quarries or other unsuitable land to agricultural use.

Three were for the storage and sorting of recyclable materials at a premises and one was for a skip hire company. Permits were also granted to an automobile recycling company and for the placement of dredged river material on land. The operation of these permitted facilities was monitored by Environmental Officers from Kilkenny County Council.

 

Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 1997

Two major producers in Kilkenny are registered with Kilkenny County Council as 'Self Compliers' under the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 1997. Seventy three companies / businesses based in County Kilkenny are members of Repak.

 

Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations, 2001

• Kilkenny County Council are the nominated authority for the South East Region: this comprises the Local Authorities - Carlow County Council, Kilkenny County Council, South Tipperary County Council, Waterford City Council, Waterford County Council and Wexford County Council.
• Companies wishing to collect waste in this region have to make an application for a Waste Collection Permit to Kilkenny County Council.
• The closing date for applications for companies continuing or proposing to collect waste was the 30th of November, 2001. An amended date of 30th June 2002 applied to those involved in the collection of slurry or residual sludge from septic tanks.
• Kilkenny County Council has received 152 applications up to 31st December, 2002. Approval has been granted to 125 of these applications to date. There have been l7 refusals including 6 who withdrew their applications, which is deemed a refusal under the Regulations.

 

Joint Waste Management Plan

There is a waste crisis both nationally and regionally due in the main to a lack of appropriate licensed facilities, increased levels of waste production and a lack of sustainable waste management practices. Waste management planning is required by law and a joint approach between authorities is Government policy. In recognition of this, the six waste authorities in the South East region prepared a Joint Waste Management Plan to tackle the issue which was adopted in County Kilkenny in June 2002. This plan is available to the public at www.wastenot.ie

 

 

Education and Awareness

Promoting Education and Awareness

Over 30 primary and secondary schools were visited on environmental awareness issues in 2002. A total of 60 community groups, farmers groups and youth groups, etc., were also visited to raise awareness of waste management, recycling, composting and anti-litter initiatives.

In conjunction with An Taisce, a pilot community-based anti-litter initiative was established in Castlecomer. An Anti-Litter Forum has been established with participation by all community and business stakeholders in the town, including the local secondary school.

In 2002 a comprehensive guide to recycling services in County Kilkenny was sent to all households in relation to waste minimisation, composting, recycling and household hazardous wastes. Later in the year a special leaflet was prepared explaining the new regulations banning the disposal of electrical and electronic waste. The leaflet encourages householders to use energy-efficient appliances and to dispose of these items carefully at our landfill site. Other materials including comprehensive composting guides were developed and distributed through schools, community groups and sales of compost bins.

A new environment section website was established in 2002 with comprehensive waste management information and contacts. The site address is www.kilkennycoco.ie/environment/index.html

Over 800 compost bins were sold in 2002, bringing the total sales to 3,300, or a composting rate in the county of nearly 17%. This programme has been very successful, and approximately 50 composting demonstrations / workshops were held around the county in conjunction with community organisations, schools and FAS schemes.

 

Green Schools

As part of the Green Schools programme, Kilkenny County Council ran a teacher's seminar and encouraged a number of new schools to get involved. Approximately 50% of all schools are now registered to participate in the Green Schools programme.

The Green Flag is the most prestigious award that a school can achieve and is given to schools that take action to eliminate litter and reduce waste. Having achieved the award, schools then move on to address other issues such as energy and transport. Kilkenny's first secondary school, Coláiste Mhuire in Johnstown and the Slieverue Girls National School achieved this award in 2002, bringing the county's total number of Green Flags to 5. Lisdowney National School also renewed their flag successfully in 2002.

2002 saw the release of a waste management video by the South Eastern Regional Authority, and over 100 copies of this video have been distributed to schools in County Kilkenny.

 

National Spring Clean April 2002

In April 2002, Kilkenny County Council undertook a major cleaning operation across the county in conjunction with local communities as part of the National Spring Clean. Throughout the year, much time and finances were invested in organising regular clean ups by residents associations, tidy town groups, youth groups, etc. in towns, villages and rural areas in the county and the outcome was extremely successful. For the first time, tags/ bags and other clean-up equipment were distributed instead of skips. This policy has proven to be popular and successful.

 

Waste Minimisation

In April 2002, Kilkenny County Council organised its first Real Nappy Week promoting washable and environmentally friendly nappies. Over 600,000 disposable nappies go to landfill every day in Ireland, and using washable nappies is an excellent example of household waste (and cost) minimisation.

 

In-house Waste Minimisation

In 2002 an in-house waste minimisation ("Green Team") was established with the support of the Council's Partnership Committee. This team will raise awareness of waste reduction and recycling initiatives within the council buildings.

 

Fair Trade Week - August 2002

In August 2002, the environmental awareness officer organised a Fair Trade Week to promote the use and purchase of Fairly Traded products within Kilkenny County Council and also the staff generally. A speaker from Oxfam visited the council and subsequently the SPC-3 committee adopted a policy supporting an awareness campaign around Fair Trade.

 

Conservations and Amenity Grants

• €25,394 was allocated to local groups e.g., residents associations, tidy towns associations etc. to help improve recreational amenities and facilities.
• €57,000 was allocated in conservation grants to encourage the preservation of items of architectural, archaeological or historical interest.

 

Recycling

2002 was an extremely successful year for Kilkenny County Council's recycling programme. By the end of 2002, 41 bring sites were in place taking glass and cans. 13 sites accepted food cans, and 5 sites accepted plastic bottles, newspapers and cardboard.

In 2002, Kilkenny County Council was declared to have the biggest increase in glass recycling by householders nationally by Rehab.

In May 2002, Kilkenny County Council applied for grants for a number of recycling projects in the county. In November 2002, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government announced grants totalling €457,000 for the development of a civic amenity site at the Dunmore landfill and the upgrading of bring banks. This grant recognised the work done to date and the work to be done by the Council in providing recycling facilities.

 

Litter control

• The Litter Warden continued with Anti-Litter Promotion in schools and businesses and Enforcement of Anti-Litter Legislation.
• A Litter Patrol Crew was employed for the summer period to keep the Environs of Kilkenny City clean.
• Tags, Bags and Litter Pickers were provided during Clean-Up Kilkenny Week to assist voluntary groups clean up their areas.
• A number of legal proceedings against unauthorised dumping were instituted.

 

Tidy Towns

There were 27 entries from Kilkenny in the National Tidy Town's Competition.

 

 

Water Quality

• The EU Water Framework Directive establishes water management at the level of river basins. All of County Kilkenny lies within the South East River Basin. The South East River Basin District Management Scheme has been set up to establish an Integrated Monitoring & Management System for all waters within the South Eastern River Basin District. Kilkenny County Council, along with other sectoral interests in the south east of Ireland, is part of the management structure for this River Basin. A dynamic programme of management measures will be developed and a River Basin Management Strategy produced.
• This Strategy will be continually updated to maintain and/or achieve Good Status for all waters (Surface freshwaters, estuarine and coastal waters and groundwater). Preparation of the SERB Management Plan is being led by Carlow County Council. The project team, including its consultants, has been put in place and regular meetings of the management steering group take place. Pending finalisation of the Plan, all the major rivers in County Kilkenny are covered by Water Quality Plans.
• The Council monitors sixteen licences to discharge to waters and nine licences to discharge to sewers. Fifteen of the county's larger industrial developments are IPC (Integrated Pollution Control) licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
• River Water Quality Monitoring is shared between the Council's Environment Laboratory and the EPA Regional Laboratory in Butts Green.
• A report by the EPA on River Water Quality in County Kilkenny was commissioned by Kilkenny County Council.
• The Groundwater Protection for the County was completed, in association with the Geological Survey of Ireland.

 

 

Water Safety

2002 was another successful year for Water Safety in Kilkenny. Kim Kinsella took over from Mr. Tim Butler as Water Safety Development Officer at the award ceremony for the newly qualified Lifeguards for 2002. Pat Millea, Chairman, Kilkenny County Council presented over 40 Pool Lifeguard Certificates on the night. A number of these also successfully went on to the Beach Lifeguard Course.

During Summer 2002, nine lifeguards, who were trained by Irish Water Safety, were employed by Kilkenny County Council to lifeguard a number of traditional swimming areas in Kilkenny. Mr. Eddie Hoyne, Lifeguard Supervisor, reported a very successful summer of lifeguarding with no major incidents.

During the Golfing World Championship held at Mount Juliet in 2002, four lifeguards, who were again trained by Irish Water Safety, were employed by the tournament organisers to lifeguard the river and two lakes at Mount Juliet. There professionalism was highly commended. Image shows one of the lifeguards at Mount Juliet.

Finally, 18 awards, ranging from 10-30 years, were presented, by Martin Cullen, Minister for the Environment and Local Government to 18 Kilkenny People for their voluntary commitment and contribution to Water Safety.

 

 

Air Quality

• Kilkenny County Council monitored the emissions from the premises of three licensees.
• The smokeless fuel zone within the Kilkenny Environs of Waterford City was monitored on behalf of the Council by Waterford Corporation.

 

 

Burial Grounds

• There are 170 burial grounds in County Kilkenny.
• 13 burial grounds are used on a regular basis and fees for grave spaces are charged.

 

 

Service Indicators

Litter (Combined County Council and Borough Council Areas):

• 317 - No. of On the Spot fines
• 19 - No. of Prosecutions
• 2 Full-Time & 4 Part-Time - No. of Litter Wardens
• 66 - No. of School Visits carried out
• 52 - No. of Community Groups involved in litter measures
• 20 - No. of Meetings with local business groups, Chambers Of Commerce, Repak

 

Bring facilities (Combined County Council and Borough Council Area)

• Number of locations per 5000 population - 2.63
• Number and type of facility:
  • 41 - glass and cans
  • 13 - with food cans also
  • 5 - newspapers, magazines, cardboard and plastic bottles