asked the Minister for the Environment his views on the feasibility of the recycling of waste; and whether it is his intention to investigate the cost effectiveness of this measure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recycling of Waste.
6.
The feasibility of recycling wastes is largely dictated by the economics of materials recovery and re-use. My colleagues, the Ministers for Industry and Commerce and Energy, have an interest in the matter in so far as resource and energy conservation is involved and State agencies such as the Industrial Development Authority and Eolas can give practical advice and assistance to industry in this area. My concern with recycling arises mainly in the context of the waste collection and disposal services provided by local authorities, including the removal from the waste stream of elements which tend to create litter and degrade the environment. Local authorities have been encouraged to provide facilities for the recovery of certain wastes and my Department operate a scheme of capital grants to encourage the development of recycling facilities. This has contributed substantially to the development of glass recycling in the Dublin area. I am keeping under review the possibility of developing other measures to promote recycling.
Apart from keeping the matter under review, has the Minister any other initiative in mind to encourage a positive attitude towards making maximum use of waste materials and, wherever possible, to recycle them, including separating certain kinds of waste and, perhaps, utilising some waste for district heating schemes or otherwise converting the refuse in this way? Has the Minister any initiative in mind or will he be proposing any policy in regard to waste disposal?
I join with the Deputy in saying that we should do what we can to recycle waste and get some good use from it, as long as it is cost effective. Quite a lot has been done in this regard. The Deputy will be aware that I support Rehab in their glass recycling project. Their programme is operating in the Dublin area and local authorities have been very supportive. In fact, many of the larger retail supermarket chains have been encouraging people to collect bottles for recycling. The Dublin local authorities have provided bottle banks at their tipheads. I have made funds available this year to give some small grants to local recycling projects run by needy groups and voluntary organisations.
I would like others to come forward with suggestions. We have a little money to accommodate them if they do so. The Deputy will be aware that there is a feasibility study in progress on the question of toxic waste disposal. The tender date for doing that work expires shortly, if it has not already passed. When the study is complete — I gave three months for that work to be carried out — we will be in a better position to assess the extent of the problem and how best we can dispose of waste and how much of it we can recycle. I would be interested to hear from people, or organisations, who need help in regard to waste recycling.
I should like to know how many organisations have applied for such grants in the past year?
The Deputy is raising a separate matter.
Will the Minister agree that there is very little interest in recycling? Will he accept that there is an onus on his Department to advocate, for conservation and other reasons, the recycling of waste?
I accept that there has been very little take up. The Deputy will be interested to know that on two occasions I met a number of people involved in the aluminium area to discuss possible means of recycling that type of waste. That work is being done quite effectively in other jurisdictions but our capacity is so small that it may not be a viable proposition.
What about the recycling of waste paper?
That is being done satisfactorily. I would be interested to hear from those who are anxious to promote such recycling.