Burning of tyres could lead to similar “dirty industries” in Limerick, claims LAP

IF Irish Cement gets approval to burn used tyres in Mungret, it could lead to similar “dirty industries” in the area, campaigners have warned.

And major employers could quit the city as a result, it’s feared. More than 150 people were at the South Court Hotel for a meeting of Limerick Against Pollution (LAP), which has long campaigned against the firm’s €10m renewal plans. All the company needs to progress its scheme to switch away from fossil fuel is a licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

But LAP member Derek O’Dwyer, an industrial engineer by trade, fears this would be dangerous.

“If Irish Cement gets the EPA licence, it could lead to a clustering of dirty industries,” Mr O’Dwyer said.

 This is standard practice. It’s rare to find dirty industries in isolated locations. You have clusters like this in Sellafield in Cumbria, Belgium, and northern Germany,” he added.

He fears the move could leave companies no choice but to leave Limerick, as they cannot attract staff here.

“It wouldn’t be the company deciding to leave, it’s the company recognising that it can’t attract talent to a dirty city. I think the university will face this problem, I think Uber will face this problem, I think Troy will face it,” Mr O’Dwyer added. LAP has vowed to continue fighting Irish Cement’s proposals, with a number of politicians present saying the project is the “number one” issue on the doorsteps ahead of the local and European Elections.Claire Keating says the anti-incineration lobby will take the case to Europe if necessary, and are already in talks with MEP Liadh Ni Riada. A spokesman for Irish Cement said: “ The fossil fuel replacement programme in our Limerick cement factory will not negatively impact on the amenities of the area or the air quality in Limerick. We await the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency.”