New composting facility opened in Cappoquin

22 May 2004: A new composting facility to recycle non-hazardous biodegradable waste from large multinationals, food companies and local authorities was officially opened in Cappoquin, Co Waterford on Friday last.

The resulting compost is used directly in agriculture, landscaping and land reclamation.

Minister for the Environment Martin Cullen officially opened the 22,500 sq ft facility, which was built at a cost of €1.6m.

The Molaisin factory became operational in January 2004 and has the capacity to compost 12,000 tonnes of biosolids per annum, preventing such waste materials from going to landfill.

Jim McGill, managing director, McGill Environmental Systems (Ireland) Ltd said that the company now has capacity to compost 27,000 tonnes of biosolids per annum using its facilities at Cappoquin as well as Castletownroche, Co Cork and Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

McGill intends to extend its capacity to 65,000 tonnes by 2005 with the addition of facilities in Glenville, Co Cork in 2004 and Meath in 2005.

Molaisin is a subsidary company of McGill Environment Systems, a privately-funded Irish sister company to McGill Environmental Systems Inc. in the US. Established in 1997 by James McGill and Walter Ryan-Purcell, it is a specialist in composting non-hazardous biodegradable waste.