Despite regulations introduced fifteen years ago, only a tenth of Irelands historic landfills have been certified, leaving many at risk of polluting waterways and ecosystems. Over two hundred and sixty sites, classified as high or moderate risk, remain in limbo, some even redeveloped into public spaces. The danger lies in landfill leachate and gas, which can release harmful chemicals and gases. Experts warn of potential persistent chemicals from banned materials. This issue is not isolated to Ireland, with an estimated five hundred thousand landfills across Europe, many predating modern pollution controls. The slow certification process, due to varying application quality and site complexity, poses a significant environmental challenge and financial burden.

DNN | The Daily News Now!

The world’s first global local news network.

Every city. Every story. AI powered. 

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.