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Emissions from three important air pollutants increased in 2016 – Ireland’s emissions going in the wrong direction for people to benefit from cleaner air.
EPA reports 2016 emission levels for the five main air pollutants.
 The figures show that emissions of three of the five air pollutants increased – ammonia, nitrogen oxides and non-methane volatile organic compounds.
Emissions of ammonia have been increasing since 2011 and were above the specified EU emission limit in 2016 for the first time.
Emissions of two of the other air pollutants, nitrogen oxides and non-methane volatile organic compounds, while in compliance with EU limits for now, are increasing.
Emissions of sulphur dioxide continue to decrease. These were well below the required EU emission limits, substantially due to the use of lower sulphur content fuels in electricity generation and transport.
Particulate matter emissions declined in 2016. Future emissions will depend largely on the quantity and quality of solid fuel used in the residential and commercial sectors.
The EPA today published figures for emissions of five key air pollutants. These pollutants impact air quality in Ireland and further afield, causing respiratory problems, pollution of soil and surface water, and damage to vegetation.
Stephen Treacy, Senior Manager with the EPA, said, “Our figures show that emissions of three of the five main pollutants are going in the wrong direction. Higher emissions of these pollutants will cause damage to air quality and health and make future compliance with EU limits more challenging.”
This latest information from the EPA shows that Ireland exceeded its emission limits for ammonia for the first time in 2016 and emissions of this gas are increasing. The agriculture sector accounts for virtually all (99 per cent) ammonia emissions in Ireland arising from the application of fertilisers – 40 million tonnes of animal manures are used annually together with 300,000 tonnes of nitrogen in fertilisers.
“Ammonia limits have been breached due to the rapid expansion of dairy and beef production in Ireland in recent years. This underlines the challenge in designing appropriate policies that protect our environment in a growing economy”, Stephen Treacy said.
The 2016 figures show that Ireland remains in compliance with its nitrogen oxide and non-methane volatile organic carbon emission limits, though these emissions are also increasing. Transport is the principal source of nitrogen oxide emissions, contributing approximately 41 per cent of the total in 2016. Agriculture is the second biggest source, contributing approximately 29.6 per cent of the 2016 total, mainly due to synthetic fertiliser application and emissions from urine and dung deposited by grazing animals.
The figures published today show that Ireland’s level of sulphur dioxide continues to be well below the EU emission limits. The reduction in the emission of this pollutant is positive for the environment, public health and the economy. The main sources of sulphur dioxide emissions are the power generation, residential and commercial sectors. Effective licencing and enforcement by the EPA has contributed to reductions in these pollutants as well as the use of cleaner fuels in power generation and transport.
Stephen Treacy concluded: “On the positive side, Ireland has significantly cut emissions of sulphur dioxide, greatly reducing the environmental damage caused by this pollutant, via behaviour change and response to regulatory interventions. While overall emissions of particulate matter also declined in 2016, localised problems can arise because of residential solid-fuel use.”
For further detail on these figures see the EPA web published report Ireland’s Air Pollutant Emissions 2016.
EPA welcomes increase in composting and anaerobic digestion of waste.
The EPA welcomes the increase in composting and anaerobic digestion of biodegradable waste – the quantity recycled increased by 15% between 2015 and 2016. Kitchen and canteen food waste together with park & garden waste accounted for most of the waste accepted for treatment in 2016 (65%). Composting rather than anaerobic digestion was the dominant treatment type.
March 15, 2018: The EPA has today released data and information on composting and anaerobic digestion in Ireland for 2016. The data updates the National Waste Statistics web resource, launched by the EPA in recent months.
Commenting on the figures, Stephen Treacy, EPA, stating:
“The EPA welcomes the increase in the amount of biodegradable waste being accepted for recycling at composting and anaerobic digestion plants. Ireland’s national waste management policy “A Resource Opportunity” aims to make the most of opportunities to recover resources from waste in line with the European Commission’s Circular Economy Strategy. Segregating and separately collecting biodegradable wastes such as food and garden waste means that they can be recycled and reduces the amount disposed to landfill.”
EPA figures show that the amount of waste accepted at commercial composting and anaerobic digestion plants increased by 15% between 2015 and 2016 (from 308,000 tonnes to 353,000 tonnes). Composting was the dominant treatment activity, (79% of tonnage accepted).
Waste collectors are required to provide brown bins to ensure that waste food is collected separately. In 2016, 174,000 tonnes of brown bin waste were accepted at composting and anaerobic digestion facilities for treatment, an increase of 22 per cent on 2015. Twelve per cent more households had an organic bin in 2016 compared to 2015 and this is a positive outcome from the implementation of the 2013 household food waste regulations. The amount of brown bin waste being exported to Northern Ireland for recovery rose again in 2016, by over 80%.
Stephen Treacy concluded by explaining the co-benefits of anaerobic digestion:
“Anaerobic digestion extracts additional value from organic waste due to the possibility of using the captured biogas. This not only mitigates the effect on climate change but the biogas can displace fossil fuel use, increasing the amount of renewables being used in Ireland.”
The 2016 information on Composting and Anaerobic Digestion is now available on the EPA website.
 Common Buzzard A second case of Bird Flu, this year, has been found in a wild bird in Co Tipperary. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced that the subtype H5N6 strain of avian influenza was detected in a dead Common Buzzard, latter found near Terryglass on lands adjacent Lough Derg.
The Health Service Executive (HSE), Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSE-HPSC) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) all advise that the risk to public health from H5N6 avian influenza strain is very low and that the disease poses no risk to food safety for consumers. Nevertheless owners of poultry flocks are being asked by the Department to minimise access to wild birds by feeding their poultry indoors and under cover. The Department of Agriculture also confirms that the situation in Ireland and other EU countries in regard to Avian influenza is being kept under constant review.
N.B. As a further precaution, the Department have advised that only trained professionals equipped with personal protective equipment should collect dead or sick birds, and have warned that members of the general public should not touch any dead birds they locate; as avian influenza, is a viral infection and can indeed infect humans and other animals. Do remember, in 2006, over 100 persons died from the H5N1 strain of the Avian Influenza.
An early warning system remains in place with organisations including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Birdwatch Ireland, and the National Association of Regional Game Councils, seeking increased surveillance for signs of this disease in our wild birds.
 An estimated several thousand people are without a safe supply of drinking water here in Co. Tipperary since yesterday, due to a major kerosene spillage.
As a result, following consultations between the Health Service Executive (HSE), Irish Water and Tipperary County Council, a “Do Not Drink” notice has been issued for Fethard and its environs; same to come into immediate effect for the householders in this affected area.
This contamination of Hydrocarbon was only detected yesterday morning, with the spillage having occurred during Storm Emma. Irish Water now warn its customers that boiling this water does not make it safe for human consumption.
To protect the health of consumers, the HSE are advising that Kerosene is generally detected by smell and/or by taste, before it reaches a level which might seriously affect human health.
The source of the contamination we now understand has been identified and containment and clean-up measures have been put in place.
The Do Not Drink notice will apply to all consumers supplied by the Fethard Public Water Supply and under no circumstances it be used for drinking.
Bird Watch Thurles
Not to be mistaken for our native Great Tit or Coal Tit; the Blue Tit is to be found widespread here in Co. Tipperary and throughout Ireland.
Its song, often heard before the bird is actually observed, is quite a high-pitched “tsee-hee-he-hee”. Found in almost all Irish gardens, eating out where nut and seed feeders are located, they can be easily identified by their green back, yellow belly, a blue cap, with blue wings and tail. Their white cheeks display a dark line through the eye area. Its beak is short and stubby and its leg colour is also a bluish-grey.
Music “Puppet on a String”, composed by Phil Coulter / Bill Martin
Surely the monkey of the bird world; the Blue Tit is exceptionally acrobatic, easily hanging upside-down on branches to peck and foraging for insects. It will often team up with other Tit species and Tree-creepers and are happy to use a nesting box if one is provided and suitably positioned.
The Blue Tit survives mainly on small insects, but also seeds and will readily use peanut feeders and take scraps from bird tables. They make their nests usually in cavities in stone walls or in hollow trees but have been known to make their homes in pipes or damaged letterboxes.
Note: Never feed peanuts to birds during their breeding season as a newly born hatchling can easily choke when being fed by its parents.
Quality nest boxes can be obtained from O’Driscolls Garden Centre, Mill Road, here in Thurles [(0504) 21636], and right now is the time to install same.
Do remember one important fact; the diameter of the hole in a Blue Tit nesting box should be 2.5cm in Diameter, any larger or smaller aperture, will be most often bypassed.
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