asked the Minister for Local Government the proposals, if any, in his Department to establish incineration units for the purpose of waste disposal.
Written Answers. - Waste Disposal.
90.
There are no such proposals in my Department. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on their waste disposal methods. As compared with the traditional method of waste disposal by landfill and reclamation, incineration involves much higher costs, particularly in terms of capital expenditure. It also requires a high input of energy and can cause its own amenity and pollution problems.
The general question of waste disposal methods is kept under review in my Department with a view to advising local authorities of any developments that may be beneficial to them.
91.
asked the Minister for Local Government the proposals, if any, in his Department to establish units for the recycling of waste matter.
There are no proposals in my Department to establish units for the recycling of waste. Local authorities have no specific responsibility in relation to recycling but I am anxious that they should, in the context of their waste disposal functions, take whatever steps they can to promote the conservation of resources. I have issued advice to them as to steps which they might take, for example, to facilitate the collection for recycling of scrap metal and waste oils. I am arranging for an examination to be made of further possibilities in this regard. It is well known, however, that there are formidable obstacles of an economic and practical nature in the way of broad-scale recovery of materials from waste.