News

A local government body is to press ahead with plans for a waste incinerator that produces power, despite a rebuff from Belfast City Council. The council had voted against its land at Belfast Lough's north foreshore being made available for the facility, however they backed a mechanical and biological treatment plant being built on the site.

Arc 21, an umbrella waste management group for 11 councils in eastern Northern Ireland said it was still committed to the plan and would seek another site for the incinerator which could provide power equivalent to that used by 40,000 homes. A public consultation carried out by the council showed that the majority of respondents backed the plan, with the main opposition coming from the Shore Road area, near where it would have been built.

Arc 21 is working on a £1 billion project to deliver one energy from waste (EfW) plant and up to two mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facilities. The infrastructure will help councils meet EU landfill targets and deliver a more environmentally friendly approach to waste management. Ricky Burnett, their policy and operations director, said they had been encouraged by the support for the project. "Arc 21 will continue to implement its waste management plan which aims to encourage people to reduce waste in the first place and boost recycling rates to at least 50%. The decision by the city council enables us to move to the next stage in our procurement process. As planned, this will include a more definitive identification of the locations proposed for the new waste facilities later in the year."

If Arc 21 is awarded the contract, the energy produced could be used to support a number of commercial, industrial, sporting and civic projects and will help Northern Ireland meet its renewable energy targets.

The newly-elected European Parliament faces a tough challenge in convincing the world to agree on an ambitious climate deal in the midst of an economic recession.

The incoming Parliament is taking office amid global negotiations for a treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

However, there is concern that the recession could hamper the EU's priorities in respect to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Marie-Hélène Fandel, a European Policy Centre (EPC) analyst, believes the EU's climate ambitions could be watered down under the new Parliament.

The major European parties consider it important that the EU takes a leading role and encourages other nations to follow its lead, particularly as it is the only region to have committed to the ambitious target of slashing greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. It remains to be seen whether the EU will end up raising this goal to 30%, as it has pledged to do, should other industrialised countries commit to comparable goals.

Approval for a 30% target could prove problematic, as governments may have little appetite for more domestic action in the ongoing economic situation.

Nonetheless, a shift to clean energy to cut emissions and create green growth is on all the major parties' to-do lists. The European People's Party (EPP) manifesto reads, "Europe should become the market leader in green technology based on more and better research and development." The EPP, the largest European party, is calling for the share of renewable energy in the bloc's energy mix to increase to at least 20% by 2020. The Greens have set a long-term goal to source all energy from renewables and the Socialists are calling for a European strategy for smart green growth.

Energy-saving policies strike a chord with the European electorate, but questions remain as to the extent to which the Parliament actually represents European citizens' interests. The EPC's, Marie-Hélène Fandel said, "When it comes to the climate, an important issue is to what extent there is a fair representation of what people want. When polled, people are enthusiastic about having more energy-efficiency measures at EU level." She added, "But I don't have the impression that the Parliament is translating these wishes into policy."

For more information, see:

• Climate Change Act 2008.

The Scotch whisky industry has committed itself to an environmental strategy that will see whisky producers cut their use of fossil fuels by 80% over the next 40 years.

The industry claim that by 2050, it will represent an annual saving of more than 750,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking more than 235,000 cars off Scotland's roads.

The Scotch Whisky Association said cutting fossil fuel use was one of a number of industry-wide targets, including a significant reduction in the weight of packaging, a commitment to source whisky casks from sustainable oak forests, and to maintain the highest standards of water use and discharge management.

Fossil fuel use will be reduced by improving operational efficiency and investment in new technology, with an emphasis on renewable energy sources.

Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association said the pledge was a bold move by distillers which demonstrated their commitment to securing Scotch whisky's future, and addressing environmental and economic issues.

Scottish Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead praised Scotland's whisky producers for committing to an industry-wide strategy. He said, "The future of Scotland's iconic whisky industry relies on our equally iconic and prestigious environment and the industry is ahead of the game with this pioneering strategy. If delivered fully, these commitments will be of real benefit to our environment."

Richard Dixon, director of environmental group WWF Scotland, also welcomed the strategy. He commented, "Scotch whisky is world renowned and we welcome plans to reduce the environmental footprint of each and every dram. We particularly welcome the fact that they have set themselves targets to reduce their impact."

For more information, see:

• Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

A construction company, John Graham (Dromore) Limited, has been fined a total of £50,000 at Antrim Crown Court after breaching health and safety regulations.

The prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) followed a fatal incident that occurred in October 2006 during the construction of a water treatment plant at Portrush.

An employee of the company was attempting to replace sheets of mesh over an opening in the lid of an underground water tank when he fell in and drowned.

Kevin Toner, HSE NI deputy chief executive said, "This tragic incident only serves to reinforce the need for all companies to carry out an assessment of the risks involved with any dangerous work activities to determine and ensure that sensible and effective precautions are put into place."

For more information see:

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 2000/388.

A haulage firm at the centre of an accident that led to a woman's death has been put out of business by the Traffic Commissioner. A 30-tonne digger rolled off a transport lorry and hit a car killing a passenger on the A9 in Ross-shire in July 2006. A public inquiry in March heard that 29 prosecutions were issued against Munro & Sons (Highland) Ltd for safety breaches since 2005. These included defects that contributed to the death, as well as problems with brakes, oil leaks and loose wheel nuts.

Prior to the inquiry in March, the company had also appeared at inquiries in 1997, 2004 and 2005. As well as withdrawing the company's operating licence, Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken disqualified former director Pamela Munro for two years. Driver Kenneth Finlayson, who had previously been involved in an accident on the A9 last year, was disqualified for 12 months.

In her written decision which details the accident, Ms Aitken said, "There can be no more victims. Clearly my orders will have significant impacts on the business including perhaps job losses and that steps will have to be taken to adjust the operation of the wider business. Disqualified operators often seek to re-emerge in other corporate form. I warn other operators and persons to be very wary of providing a front for continued operation by Messrs Munro."

A two-year old boy has been killed in a farm accident involving a lorry in County Tyrone. He was playing outside his family home at Mullaghslin, Carrickmore, when the incident happened on the evening of Monday 18 May.

A local politician, Sinn Fein councillor Ann Marie Fitzgerald said she had visited the family, who were deeply shocked by the child's death. She commented, "I visited the family home last night and they are totally devastated. The child was the youngest of four boys and was playing outside when the tragic accident occurred. As a parent and local representative, I wish to extend deepest sympathy with the family during this incredibly difficult time."

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) are currently investigating, and are already in partnership with The Ulster Farmers’ Union with regard to a campaign to raise awareness of farm safety. Details of this can be found on their website, at www.hseni.gov.uk.

For more information, see:

• NI ACOP, Safety of Children and Young Persons in Agriculture.