Several agri-business sites on EPA National Priority Sites List
A number of agri-business sites have been named in the latest National Priority Sites List published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today (Friday, October 21).
The list comprises facilities with the poorest compliance and environmental performance records so far this year.
According to the EPA, sites are placed on the EPA National Priority Sites List if they fail to adhere to their licence conditions and, as a consequence, are posing a risk to the environment.
Licensed facilities are identified as National Priority Sites for enforcement using a system developed by the EPA. Points are allocated to each site based on compliance data such as complaints, incidents and non-compliances over the previous six months.
Sites which exceed a certain threshold become a National Priority Site and are targeted by the EPA for further enforcement action. The EPA updates the National Priority Sites list on a quarterly basis.
Five sites from the Food and Drink Sector appear on the EPA’s latest National Priority Sites List due to their poor compliance and environmental performance records.
— EPA Ireland (@EPAIreland) October 21, 2022
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National Priority Sites List
The EPA has stated that it carried out over 1,049 inspections of licensed sites so far in 2022, and dealt with over 1,161 complaints relating to licensed sites.
On foot of this enforcement work, the EPA has identified an increasing number of sites of concern which has resulted in an increase in the number of sites on the National Priority Sites List, from eight in quarter two (Q2) of 2022, to 12 in Q3.
The following sites have been included on the list:
| Site | County | Sector | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrow Group* | Kildare | Food and drink sector | Odour and noise |
| Aurivo Dairy Ingredients Ltd. | Roscommon | Food and drink sector | Wastewater treatment and odour |
| Ballyguyroe Landfill | Cork | Landfill sector | Management of gas and leachate |
| City Bin Co. Ltd. | Galway | Non-hazardous waste transfer stations sector | Emissions to water and waste management practices |
| Euroflex Teoranta | Donegal | Surface coating sector | Air emissions |
| Forge Hill Recycling Ltd. | Cork | Non-hazardous waste transfer stations sector | Odour and waste management practices |
| Gairdini t/a Munster Joinery | Cork | Surface coating sector | Emissions to water |
| Kepak, Athleague | Roscommon | Food and drink sector | Wastewater treatment |
| North Cork Co-Op Creameries Ltd. | Cork | Food and drink sector | Wastewater treatment |
| SRCL Ltd. | Dublin | Hazardous waste transfer stations sector | Waste handling and storage |
| Timoleague Agri Gen Ltd. | Cork | Compost sector | Odour and facility infrastructure |
| Western Brand Group Unlimited Company | Mayo | Food and drink sector | Wastewater treatment |
Commenting on the publication of the list, Dr. Tom Ryan, EPA director said: "The emergence of facilities in the food the and drinks sector on the EPA’s National Priority Sites List, due to their poor compliance and environmental performance records so far this year, is incompatible with the sustainable development goals and green image of the sector.
"This trend has to be reversed and the EPA will hold any licensed operator polluting the environment or impacting public health to account," he added.
Adding to comments on the sites in the food and drink sector, Darragh Page, EPA programme manager said: "The waste sector also continues to be a major contributor to sites on the National Priority Sites List with five sites from the waste sector appearing.
"The EPA will continue to focus our enforcement efforts on those who pose a risk to the environment or cause environmental pollution, and those on the priority sites list can expect further enforcement action from the EPA.”
