Meat plant on Waterford/Kilkenny border one step away from processing more carcasses

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to allow a meat plant on the Waterford/Kilkenny border to scale up operations, despite receiving 90 formal objections.

Anglo Beef Processors are seeking a revised licence from the EPA to allow them to process larger volumes of animal waste and carcasses at their plant near Ferrybank.

This news has generated considerable commotion amongst nearby residents and public representatives, many of whom had already been raising concerns over alleged odours emanating from the plant under the current licence.

Local councillor Fidelis Doherty recently said that the alleged ‘stench’ emanating from the plant is ‘very sickening in nature’.

“There have also been reports of animal liquids leaking out of vehicles on the way to the plant,” she said.

In his submission, Cllr Tomás Breathnach raised concerns over activity at the plant and the potential impact that could occur when processing more animal carcasses and waste.

“Odour is the issue most often referred to by local residents,” he noted.

“These residents are concerned by the proposal to increase the volume of raw material accepted daily at a time when there are concerns about existing levels of throughput.”

Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council, Denis Malone, stated that the local authority have also raised their own concerns about the plant but that the final decision is down to the EPA.

The meat plant is located in a predominantly industrial area but there are numerous residential dwellings within a relatively close proximity.

Some vehicles travelling to the plant carrying animal carcasses are also known to regularly travel through the built-up residential area of Ferrybank to get to the plant.

The EPA has said that it is satisfied, on the basis of the information available, that subject to compliance, ‘any emissions will comply with and will not contravene any of the requirements of Section 83(5) of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992’.

The Kilkenny People, part of the Iconic News Group, previously contacted Anglo Beef Processors in relation to the issues raised and were told that the company ‘is currently engaged with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a routine licence review for its Ferrybank plant’ and ‘is fully cooperating with the EPA on this matter’.

A spokesperson for Anglo Beef Processors stated in EPA correspondence that the company notes that some of the submissions ‘have contained details of odour detection in areas up to 5km from the site whose source have been attributed to the facility’.

“The company would like to refute these opinions,” the statement reads, adding that the company ‘are major employers in the area’.

The EPA’s proposal to grant the revised licence to Anglo Beef Processors remains open to objections until February 23.

A final decision is due from the EPA by March 12, 2023.