RPS provided expert advice to South Dublin County Council on the safe disposal of 'out of date' cylinders of hydrogen cyanide, which had been in storage for several decades. The cylinders were located on an industrial site located within a densely populated industrial and residential area and there were genuine public fears for the safe handling of the waste cyanide, which is a toxic poison.

RPS Environment and Project Communications advised the Council on the most environmentally safe disposal methods available and provided project communication expertise in conjunction with the Council to manage public concerns, both face to face and in the media.

Chemical neutralisation was selected as the most appropriate disposal solution following consultations with RPS Explosive Engineering Division and partner IES who specialise in the safe disposal of compressed gas cylinders.

Following detailed planning and assessment of the contents of the cylinders, they were transported under police escort at night to the centre of a public golf course in South Dublin and chemically neutralised, by IES over a two-day period when the golf course was closed to the public. The resulting inert liquid residues and cylinders were then sent to Rotterdam for hazardous waste incineration.

RPS undertook logistical design and management of the operation and provided 'public information centres' at the neutralisation locations to allay any public concerns. RPS also conducted environmental air, soil and surface water monitoring prior to, during and post completion of the neutralisation process to the satisfaction of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The highly satisfactory outcome was widely publicised in the National Press, radio and television following the successful and safe completion of the neutralisation stage.