Local authorities are responsible for the planning, organisation, authorisation and supervision of waste disposal operations in their areas under the Waste Regulations, 1979, which give effect to the Council Directive of 15 July 1975, 75/442/EEC on waste; the Toxic and Dangerous Waste Regulations, 1982, which give effect to the Council Directive of 20 March 1978, (78/319/EEC) on toxic and dangerous waste; and the Waste Oils Regulations, 1984, which give effect to Council Directive 75/439/EEC of 16 June 1975 on the disposal of waste oils, and implement a permit system in respect of disposal undertakings.
Under the Waste Regulations, 1984, which implement Council Directive 76/403/EEC of 6 April 1976 relating to disposal of PCB's holders of PCB waste must notify the Minister for the Environment of the holding of the waste and the planned disposal method. The Minister is empowered to give directions in relation to the disposal which must be complied with.
Under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations, 1988, which implement Council Directive 84/631/EEC of 6 December 1984, as amended, local authorities are responsible for the supervision and control of transfrontier shipments of hazardous waste in so far as exports from the State are concerned: the Minister for the Environment is the competent authority for imports of hazardous waste to the State.
Under the Asbestos Waste Regulations, 1990, which give effect to the Council Directive 87/217/EEC of 19 March 1987 on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos in so far as it relates to the disposal of waste asbestos, there are provisions with regard to the transport and deposit of such waste. Comprehensive legislation on waste which is being prepared by my Department at present is intended, inter alia, to provide an improved framework for the transposition into Irish law of these, and more recently adopted, EC waste directives.
As stated in reply to Question No. 213 of 12 March 1991 as reported in the Official Report, column 610, volume 406, the disposal of domestic waste has always been the responsibility of local authorities and I have no proposals to change the position. Grants of up to 50 per cent are available from my Department to local authorities towards the capital cost of providing co-disposal facilities which would cater for industrial as well as domestic wastes.