Completion of the capping of a former Monaghan landfill site has been approved by the higher planning authority.
The plans were lodged by Monaghan County Council to complete the works at the former landfill at Killycard near Castleblayney. The former landfill site is located in a low-lying valley, bordered by Corrinshigo Lough to the west. It is detailed within the application documentation that the former landfill accepted waste from 1980 to 1987, and was then covered with a soil cap. The works includes site clearance works including the removal of fencing, gates and timber posts. An engineered landfill capping system will be installed covering a site area
of 1.3 hectares. This will include vertical standpipes, a passive liner gas venting system, a LLDPE barrier which stops water and gas from escaping, and topsoil
Landfill gas management systems and subsurface water drainage infrastructure are all also included, as well as landscaping of the final capping to include multi-species grass cover. In an extensive report, An Bórd Pleanála examined whether the works would have a negative impact on the natural environment and surrounding area.
The inspector noted that the installation of gas venting systems would have a positive impact on air quality, and will have a long-term positive impact on water quality. The council were given the go-ahead to carry out the works with 7 conditions attached, including that a person be hired by the local authority to oversee planting on the site, and that an ecologist be on site to oversee the project and ensure damage is mitigated.
