asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state whether the Government have given consideration to the question of the collection of waste material for industrial purposes, and if he will indicate whether it is proposed to organise the collection of such waste materials through the medium of local authorities or otherwise.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Collection of Waste Material.
Consideration has been given on numerous occasions to the matter of the salvage of waste materials for industrial purposes and it is being kept under constant review. It is my present opinion that the best results can be achieved by leaving the collection of such waste materials to be organised on a commercial basis by concerns who have had long experience in this connection. These concerns have, up to the present, been capable of meeting all demands except, recently, in the case of waste paper, the requirements of which have increased since the beginning of the present year. The question of supplies of waste paper is at present being investigated.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that, while a large holder of waste material will have no difficulty in disposing of that material through a commercial purchaser, a good deal of waste material which is contained in domestic refuse is in fact being classed as refuse at the moment and is being destroyed in municipal destructors throughout the country, and does he not think it desirable to organise the collection of waste material at municipal centres where it is possible to do that and where the aggregate collection would justify any expenditure?
I am not clear as to the waste material which the Deputy has in mind. In respect to all the waste materials which are capable of being utilised commercially here, our supply is normally considerably in excess of our needs, except in the case of waste paper. The position at the moment is that all the waste materials which can be used here are available in quantities equal to and, in fact, in excess of our requirements.
That may be so, but we have no assurance that that situation will continue, any more than we have an assurance in respect to other commodities, while material is going to waste. Will the Minister reconsider the matter and try to organise collections in the large centres?
The collection of waste is undertaken as a commercial proposition by commercial firms and I see no reason why we should interfere with their activities until it is clear that these activities are inadequate to deal with the situation.
Will the Minister consider the advisability of opening depôts where people could take this waste paper? I was in Belfast recently and in one of the main streets there was a receptacle where people could take their periodicals or other papers which they have read. The same thing could be done here.
The question of waste paper is being considered. There was no problem about it until recently. The quantity required to maintain the production of new paper has now increased and some problem has arisen. There is no problem concerning any other form of waste material, scrap iron or anything else. The supplies which are coming forward through the ordinary channels are quite equal to all requirements.
That will not continue.