Carrowbrowne composting facility set to be privatized

Galway City Council’s composting facility at Carrowbrowne looks set to be privatised, after the local authority was told it would require significant investment to bring it up to EPA and Department of Agriculture requirements.

The Council is under increasing pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Dept to invest in the facility in order to maintain its licence.

The Sentinel understands a decision has already been taken by the Council to lease out Carrowbrowne, but the local authority is awaiting the ‘green light’ from the Department of the Environment, which provided capital funding for the facility.

And concerns have been expressed by Council workers that yet another service is to be outsourced.

Brendan McGrath, Chief Executive of the City Council said discussions are ongoing with staff, and councillors will be informed of any decision “within the next month”.

“We have completed our analysis of the options for the future of the facility. We are currently engaging with the staff regarding the outcome of the analysis. A report on this matter will be presented to councillors within the next month, when the position of the Department of the Environment (which provided capital funding for the facility) will have to be ascertained,” said Mr McGrath.

Independent councillor Catherine Connolly has raised concerns that the potential privatisation at a local authority meeting this week.

“I have expressed serious concerns about Carrowbrowne before, as I have worries that we would sell it off just like we privatised the refuse collection.

“A lot of taxpayers’ money has gone into developing that recycling facility to what it is today and I would be afraid that if the plant was sold, that money would not be recuperated,” said Cllr Connolly.

Mr McGrath said the facility remains the property of the Council, but that there are “licensing issues” and that these are currently being looked at.

He said it is a question of spending more money on the facility to bring it up to licensing standards as there are licensing issues with existing material on the site.

Meanwhile, Mr McGrath has refuted claims that there is a pungent odour coming from the facility. Cllr Frank Fahy (FG) voiced concerns this week about a smell in the area, which he believes is emanating from the composting site or some other facility nearby, and enquired if the site complied with health and safety regulations. Mr McGrath said that there was no bad smell coming from there.