A NEW facility in Knockharley, Navan, has ended the need to export ash from Dublin’s Poolbeg incinerator.
Operated by Panda, the €35m plant began running in May and is the first in Ireland to process bottom ash on the island.
The Poolbeg incinerator burns over 600,000 tonnes of waste annually, producing 120,000 tonnes of ash.
Previously, this residue was sent to the Netherlands for processing.
Now, Panda collects the ash from Poolbeg and transports it to Navan, where metals are extracted and expected to total around 8,000 tonnes each year.
These metals will continue to be exported for refining and recycling.
The remaining ash is being stored at the facility while awaiting Environmental Protection Agency approval to allow its use in construction projects, such as cement and road materials.
“This is the first on-island solution for this type of waste,” said Panda CEO Brian McCabe, according to RTÉ.
“It’s a positive step for Ireland to manage its own materials rather than exporting them.”
Dublin Waste to Energy project director Kieran Mullins described the plant as a significant boost to the country’s waste infrastructure.
“It reduces environmental impact and provides a long-term, local solution for ash processing,” he said.
Poolbeg handles roughly a third of Ireland’s waste, burning about 1,800 tonnes per day.
The Knockharley facility marks a key step toward recycling Ireland’s incinerator ash and keeping valuable resources within the country.