Indecent Proposal

Mr. Toastmaster, fellow toastmasters, and guests. This evening I want to give you some information on a proposal which will affect you and which you may want to do something about. This proposal will actually affect everybody in Ireland and further afield but most directly those in the West Dublin, South Meath and Kildare areas. The proposal is for an Incinerator for municipal and hazardous waste in Kilcock, Co. Kildare. Incinerators produce dioxins, the same highly dangerous toxic chemicals, which, you may remember, recently brought Belgium to a standstill. The proposed incinerator will operate 7 days a week, 365 days a year and will be capable of dealing with 100, 000 tonnes of hazardous waste a year, as well as 50,000 tonnes of domestic waste. The cocktail of dangerous by-products burnt at temperatures in excess of 1,200 degrees is expected to include thousands of tonnes of medical and agricultural waste, pharmaceutical organic solvents and other organic sludge's. But no matter how well managed and technologically advanced the proposed plant, it is certain that there will be emissions of toxic substances into the air including dioxins, the most sinister and complex poisons of the lot. This insidious group of chemicals cause cancer and impair hormonal, immune, developmental and reproductive systems. They have been associated with heart disease, neurological disorders and recently have been implicated in reduced sperm counts. The company proposing the incinerator go by the name of Thermal Waste Management (Ireland) Ltd. The study undertaken by them concluded that the predicted concentrations of heavy metal particle compounds and dioxins released into the atmosphere would be well below the limits recommended by the World Health Organisation. They say the levels of emissions would also meet the limits set in the EU directive on incineration and that even in a "worst case scenario" there would be a very low risk to the health of the local population. However, the Environmental Impact Survey points out that there is insufficient information to predict the probability or severity of a release of heavy metal compounds or dioxins during foreseeable emergency situations. A few Facts : Thermal Waste Management have based their studies on 1991 data which is now seriously out of date and incorrect. Incineration is a backward and dangerous step when there are other safe and proven waste management technologies available. Most developed countries are banning incinerators. Even developing countries are ahead of this in this regard; recently the Philippine Government instituted a total an on incineration. Ireland does not produce the amount of toxic waste planned for this incinerator. This means we would import it - a very lucrative exercise. This is not just a local problem for the residents of Kilcock. This proposal poses a serious health and safety risk for the whole of the greater Dublin region. It will also impact all of Ireland and international consumers of our exports. Dust from incinerators can travel up to 100 km. The finer the dust particles, the farther they can travel and the deeper they can get into your lungs. Dioxins accumulate in meat, dairy products, fish etc. The North Kildare and South Meath area is the biggest milk producing area in Leinster. So what is being done about it? An opposition group has been set up. They have an office in Kilcock telephone number 628 7888. They also have a web site at the address : www.kilcockincinerator.com Kildare County Council recently rejected the proposal on 14 different counts, but as with all multinational profiteers Thermal Waste Management will fight tooth and nail to get what they want. Somehow I don't think we should let them. I first found out about this from my sister. She and her husband heard about the incinerator proposal when they were looking in the Kilcock area to buy a house. They've decided to pursue the idea of living in Kilcock, and in fact will be moving at the end of the month, on the basis that if the proposal goes ahead there is nowhere safe to live in the Dublin area. We've all heard stories about the landfill in the back garden. But this isn't somebody else's story. This time it is your back garden. It is your health. It is your life. So please, do take heed of this let's all help to stop it. I would hate my last ragged gasp of breath to a be whisper "I told you so".