asked the Minister for the Environment if he has received an inventory from the Electricity Supply Board as to where they have dumped asbestos waste in Ireland each year for each of the last 25 years; if each local authority received such an inventory in their respective areas; if the areas in question were specifically marked on proper maps; the arrangements which have been made for the disposal of all types of (1) toxic waste and (2) asbestos waste at national level; and the plan which is in operation for the collection and recovery of polychlorobiphenyl which is a highly toxic substance used in electrical installations.
Written Answers. - Dumping of Toxic Waste.
110.
Under the European Communities (Toxic and Dangerous Waste) Regulations, 1982, which came into operation on 1 January 1983 any person producing, holding or disposing of toxic and dangerous waste, including asbestos waste, is required to maintain a register of these operations. The location of any landfill deposit of such waste must also be recorded on a grid plan and all such detail must be made available to the local authority on request. The submission of information to my Department is not required by the regulations.
Each county council and county borough corporation is responsible in its own area for planning, supervising and monitoring the disposal of all categories of waste, including asbestos and other toxic wastes, irrespective of their production source.
The control of disposal of waste polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) is regulated by the European Communities (Waste) Regulations, 1984. Under these regulations, a holder of waste PCB is required to notify my Department of the manner in which it is proposed to dispose of the waste, comply with any directions given in relation to disposal and, if so required, provide evidence of disposal.
111.
asked the Minister for the Environment the amount of toxic waste produced in Ireland each year since 1985; the amount of toxic waste which has been disposed of and accounted for to his Department; in the event of a difference in the amount of toxic waste produced and disposed of with that of the toxic waste accounted for to his Department, if he will give details of what happened to the toxic waste unaccounted for to his Department.
The latest year for which information is available in my Department on the volume of toxic and dangerous waste produced in this country is 1985. This was compiled from information furnished by local authorities in reply to a questionnaire on a range of waste control aspects.
Producers of toxic and dangerous wastes are not accountable to my Department for the manner in which they dispose of such wastes. Local authorities are responsible under the European Communities (Toxic and Dangerous Waste). Regulations, 1982, for all aspects of management of toxic waste disposal in their areas. They are responsible for the issue of disposal permits and have extensive powers to secure information on the quantity and nature of wastes produced and disposed of in their areas.
112.
asked the Minister for the Environment if the Government have placed an upper limit on the level of toxic waste production in Ireland; and, if not the proposals which the Government have to place such an upper limit on toxic waste production in Ireland.
The extent to which particular categories of toxic and dangerous waste are likely to arise in this country in the future will depend on a number of factors such as the growth of various types of manufacturing industry, industrial process technology and related aspects of industrial development policy. While policy in the waste management area is to reduce the quantities of wastes as much as possible through the application of appropriate controls and through recycling and other measures, the imposition of an overall upper limit on waste production would clearly be inappropriate.