THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency (EPA) has found an infestation of flies at the Poolbeg incinerator, after locals in the Ringsend area had complained about the large number of flies in the area recently.
The EPA conducted a site visit at the incinerator today, and found what it called a “moderate” infestation of flies “in the waste intake building and bunker area”.
A spokesperson for the EPA told TheJournal.ie that Covanta, the company that operates the waste-to-energy plant, “has had a pest control contractor on site on 2, 5 and 6 July to undertake fly control”.
The EPA has told the company to “continue fly treatment, as necessary to ensure that fly populations do not increase on site”.
It is believed that the problem may be linked to the recent termination of activities at Poolbeg, following a lime leak at the plant. The accumulation of waste waiting to be incinerated is being cited as a potential cause.
Since the beginning of the week, local Sinn Féin councillor Chris Andrews has been inundated with calls from constituents complaining about the sheer number of flies that have taken up residence in the area.
He told TheJournal.ie: “It’s an infestation. Residents are understandably annoyed.”
Andrews said that the issue “wasn’t going away” and needed to be dealt with as a matter or urgency.
Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys, meanwhile, told TheJournal.ie that the situation was “out of control”.
Today, Humphreys said: “This really is quite an unusual situation and residents and business owners are understandably quite distressed.”
The EPA said it would continue to monitor the situation.
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