EPA Prosecutes Roscommon County Council

On the 28th July 2005 at Ballaghaderreen District Court, Co Roscommon, Roscommon County Council pleaded guilty to offences under Sections 39(1) and 39(9) of the Waste Management Acts 1996 and 2003 for breaches of its Waste Licence (Reg. No. 59-2).

The Council admitted breaching conditions of its Waste Licence by failing to control odours emanating from the landfill, failing to cover the working face with suitable material at the end of the working day and accepting more than the annual tonnage of waste permitted by the licence. Breach of these conditions has the potential to impair the local environment and cause odour nuisance.

On hearing details of the offences, the judge imposed fines totalling €2,250 and the EPA’s costs of €7,296 were also awarded. Roscommon County Council outlined to the court their commitment to spend in the region of €4million on infrastructural improvements and management practices at the facility.

Roscommon County Council was granted a waste licence for continued operation of Ballaghaderreen landfill in October 2000(Reg. No. 59-1) for the acceptance of 15,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste per annum. A revised licence (Reg. No. 59-2) was issued in 2003 for the acceptance of 25,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste per annum.

This prosecution was taken following an Audit undertaken by the Office of Environmental Enforcement on 20th October 2004 and Site Inspections on 9th and 10th November 2004.