Ireland – An incinerator that is under construction in Ireland’s capital of Dublin will be able to burn a claimed 600 000 tonnes of waste per year. But the Euro 600 million project is ‘a step back for the whole country’ according to actor Jeremy Irons, star of the pro-recycling documentary ‘Trashed’.
The controversial incineration plant is being built at the Dublin port. The facility is expected to start operations in the second half of 2017.
Irons told the Irish Times: ′Only if something cannot be recycled should it be burned. Incineration is a very dangerous way to get rid of our rubbish. We think: ′′let′s burn it, lovely′′ and believe we get free or cheap electricity, but that isn′t the case because not everything is filtered,′ the actor added.
The government should eliminate recycling fees if it wishes to reduce waste in a more sustainable way, Irons suggests. ′In my area of West Cork, you have to pay to go into the recycling station to put recyclables there. We must encourage people to recycle, not charge them for being responsible,′ he argues.
As part of adopting a ′cohesive and clear policy′ on recycling, he recommends that Ireland sets up recycling centres right across the country.
Irons′s film has toured Italy, Argentina and Indonesia over the last few months, and he hopes it will be shown in cinemas in his home country soon. ′Waste problems may be more colourful to look at in places like Indonesia, but we have the same problems here in Ireland,′ he points out.
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