About 2,000 people protested at the weekend against a proposed development by a waste management company in Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary.
Traffic in the town was brought to a standstill by marchers objecting to a planning application by Sterile Technologies Ireland to build a healthcare waste transfer station at Mill River Business Park. The company also has plans to build a healthcare waste treatment facility in another part of the town.
Saturday's march organisers, Concerned Residents of Carrick-on-Suir, said local people were worried about the safety of medical waste being transported through residential areas to the proposed station. Its spokeswoman, Ms Patricia O'Shea, said farmers were also concerned about a waste-treatment plant being sited near farmland.
The campaign has been supported by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, Mr Noel Davern, and local TDs, Ms Therese Ahearn from Fine Gael and the Labour Party's Mr Michael Ferris. Ms Ahearn said she saw no reason why the station could not be proposed for a green-field site instead of an urban area.
The proposal will be considered by the local planning officer next month.