asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of the principal components of toxic waste; the amount being dumped annually in this country; and if he will outline his plans for the future disposal of waste of this kind.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Toxic Waste.
12.
Twenty-seven categories of toxic and dangerous waste are listed in EC Directive No. 78/319 of 20 March, 1978 on this subject. This directive was given effect in this country by the European Communities (Toxic and Dangerous Waste) Regulations, 1982. It defines toxic and dangerous waste as any waste containing or contaminated by these substances in such quantities or in such concentrations as to constitute a risk to health or the environment.
Pending the completion of special waste plans by all of the local authorities designated in the regulations, precise information on the quantities of such toxic and dangerous wastes arising in Ireland and of the amounts being disposed of to landfill is not available. However, the indications are that up to 70 per cent of the wastes are disposed of either by incineration or in-plant recovery and that most of the balance is exported, either for recovery or incineration, leaving some 5 per cent to be landfilled either here or abroad.
The national waste disposal strategy for problem wastes, which has already been well publicised, provides for the establishment of a central waste transfer station which will streamline export arrangments for producers of hazardous wastes that do not at present have satisfactory economic disposal outlets available to them. It provides also for the development of a network of carefully designed and managed co-disposal sites at which industrial wastes suitable for landfill disposal can be safely disposed and for the vigourous enforcement by local authorities of the 1982 regulations on toxic and dangerous wastes.
Is the Minister aware that indiscriminate dumping of toxic waste is taking place throughout the country? If the Minister is aware of that, is he in a position to give the House an idea of the extent of the dumping that cannot be accounted for? Will the Minister agree that it is high time we set about establishing a national toxic waste dump rather than having dumping areas throughout the country? If such a national toxic waste dump was established the Department would be in a position to keep a closer watch on what is going on. Chemicals that are too hot to handle are being dumped indiscriminately by fly by night disposal people.
I have not any hard evidence that large scale indiscriminate dumping is taking place. If the Deputy has such evidence he should pass it on to me. I can assure him that I will take appropriate action in the event of any offences. We propose to have a toxic waste unit for the transfer of such waste. The whole question of disposing of it as one unit and having one disposal centre has not up to now been considered an economic proposition. However, the matter is always kept under review. If it is felt that it would be economically viable to establish such a centre we will do so. The need at present is for the establishing of a transfer or storage area. We are looking at that and, hopefully, we will be seeking planning permission for one.
Does the Minister intend to push ahead with his plans to build a toxic waste dump at Baldonnel?
No dump is proposed.
Is the Minister saying that there is not a plan for a toxic waste dump there?
There is no plan for a toxic waste dump anywhere.
Was financial provision made in the 1984 Estimates for the development of a toxic waste dump? Was Baldonnel the site mentioned by the Government?
It was mentioned as a toxic transfer facility to which industry could transport their toxic waste. The waste would be transferred on later. There was not any question of using it as a dump or a permanent area for disposing of toxic waste. It was purely a facility to allow industry to move toxic waste to and to ensure that it was properly controlled and monitored. There was no question of a dump at any time.
The Minister has confirmed that the Government have plans to establish a toxic waste storage development at Baldonnel. Is it not true that funds have been provided to develop that? Were local residents consulted by the Government? Has the local authority agreed to the location of this toxic waste storage facility at Baldonnel?
Planning permission has not been sought yet. The National Building Agency is the agency dealing with this and it is my information that they have not sought planning permission yet. That is all I can tell the Deputy.
Is the Minister confirming that planning permission will have to be sought; that there is no exemption for the Government in building this storage unit?
Absolutely not.
Is the Minister aware of the strong objections voiced by local residents' associations and Members of the House against the proposal to build this storage unit at Baldonnel?
I do not blame people being apprehensive——
That is a separate question.
——when across the House it was described as a toxic dump.
It will be dumped there for a short or long period.
It will not be a toxic dump. It is not right to have such emotive language in the House. We require some type of facility for the orderly movement of toxic waste. Our approach is reasonable. I can understand the anxieties of the people in the area. No matter where we put such a toxic facility people will express fears but we hope to allay those fears. On this matter the planning authority will make the final decision.
Will the Minister agree that it is rather silly to seek to locate this toxic dump or storage unit in close proximity to a residential area which has been zoned for further residential development? Surely there are many other locations where such a unit would not interfere with local residents?
I am doing my best to prevent a debate on this.
When is a dump not a dump?