Contract signed for landfill remediation project in Mayo

Mayo County Council signed a contract for approximately €2.5m. with Joe Reilly Plant Hire Ltd for the Claremorris Historic Landfill Remediation Project.

The work to complete the remediation will take 44 weeks and is funded 100 per cent by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), with consultant engineers Fehily Timoney overseeing the project.

Historically the site operated as a landfill accepting municipal waste from 1982 to 1996, and upon completion, the landfill will be capped to the recommended Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

This will reduce the environmental risks from the site, and when completed it will be ready to be handed over to the Claremorris and Western District Energy Co-Operative, who have worked tirelessly on a voluntary basis to progress this issue, which will eventually see the development of a 5MW community solar farm project.

Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor Sean Carey said: “This is a good day for the people and town of Claremorris and the entire county. When this project is completed, it will reduce environmental risk associated with the historic landfill site and will have a positive impact on the surrounding environment.”

John Condon, Deputy Chief Executive of Mayo County Council added: “Mayo County Council is committed to ensuring that the highest of standards are applied when it comes to ensuring all environmental regulations are complied with.

“This remediation project is another demonstration of Mayo County Council living up to these commitments, ensuring improved ground and groundwater quality underlying the site, improved water quality at receiving surface water bodies, and improved ambient air quality in the vicinity of the site.”