The proposed facility, Resource Recovery Centre Ringaskiddy (RRCR), will be a sister site to Indaver’s facility in Meath. It  will treat household, commercial, industrial, non-hazardous and suitable hazardous waste and will generate approximately 18.5MW of electricity for export to the national electrical grid. This will be enough to supply the power needs of approximately 30,000 households. That’s enough electricity to power the equivalent of the combined households of Carrigaline, Cobh, Midleton, Mallow, Youghal, Bandon, Fermoy, and Passage West. 

On September 19th 2022, the Supreme Court refused an application by CHASE for leave to appeal the Order made by the High Court on June 1st 2022 to remit the planning application for the Ringaskiddy Resource Recovery Centre back to An Bord Pleanála.

Seamus Flynn, General Manager of Indaver Ireland & UK said, ‘Indaver is pleased with the decision of the Supreme Court, as this allows us to move on to the next phase of the project. We look forward to re-engaging with An Bord Pleanála on the planning application.’ 
 
The population of Cork County is close to 550,000 and growing, with the National Planning Framework (NPF) making provision for the population to grow to approximately 777,000 by 2040. In light of Cork’s growing population, with associated greater volumes of waste arising, and an identified policy need for further progress towards self-sufficiency, the Ringaskiddy facility will assist in meeting this need. It will also minimise the export of waste to continental Europe, whilst also addressing the present spatial imbalance in the Southern region. Currently, waste generated in the region is travelling long distances for treatment, including export abroad for recovery in waste-to-energy facilities. 

Indaver will recover non-combustible materials such as metal from the bottom ash and send for recycling. It will produce renewable electricity for use onsite and export to the grid.
The facility will provide economic benefits to local service providers and offer waste treatment services for the industries in the region. With an investment of approximately of approximately €160 million, its development will result in 40 full time jobs and 350 jobs during construction.

The proposed development is underpinned by policy as outlined by Government and the relevant statutory bodies, including:

• A Resource Opportunity – Waste Management Policy in Ireland
• Southern Region Waste Management Plan 2015-2021
• National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2014-2020
• National Planning Framework: Project Ireland 2040
• South West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022
• Cork County Development Plan 2014-2020
• Ireland’s transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030

For more information about planning and licensing aspects of the project please visit: www.ringaskiddyrrc.ie