Dick Spring
Question:6 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for the Environment if he is drawing up new guidelines for the collection and disposal of refuse; and if he is satisfied with the present system of landfill as employed by most local authorities.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Collection and Disposal of Refuse.
Detailed guidelines on the management and operation of landfill sites were issued to local authorities by my Department in September 1987. These will be reviewed in the light of any relevant criteria and standards formulated at European Community level as a consequence of the recently adopted Council resolution on waste policy in the Single Market.
While my Department have given general guidance to local authorities on various aspects of waste disposal, waste management planning including the collection and disposal methods, employed are a matter for the local authorities concerned.
Will the Minister agree that there is a need for national guidelines to provide for a recycling programme so that instead of continuing with the old fashion policy of using infilled sites for waste disposal we start utilising our waste to the benefit of the community? We should not continuously dispose of waste to sites that in future years will pose problems. Will the Minister indicate whether the Government are working on putting together a national plan for the recycling of waste products?
We are concerned that the level of recycling is not adequate, and that is a fair comment. I support the Deputy's point of view that we should encourage recycling in every area as much as possible. We are trying to do that, and that was specifically mentioned in our environmental action programme. Some extra money has been made available by way of grant assistance to encourage individuals, and local authorities, to get involved. I am having some discussions with interested bodies about this. Often the level of waste here is not sufficient to warrant the setting up of an individual plant but we may be coming to an agreement with an individual in the private sector who is actively considering setting up recycling plants here. I agree with the Deputy that this should be pursued.
Will the Minister agree that a substantial number of products can be manufactured from recycled waste, particularly paper, cardboard, tin cans and glass? Is the Minister aware that in the United States there have been revolutionary uses of such products? Will the Minister consider having his Department identify appropriate products that could be manufactured through a recycling method with a view to providing a co-ordinated programme for the recycling of waste? No individual local authority would be able to provide the necessary amount of waste, perhaps with the exception of Dublin County Council and Dublin Corporation together, but a unified programme could be to the substantial benefit of the country.
We are pursuing that and the Deputy will be pleased to learn that I had discussions with interested parties in America concerning the possibility of attracting here suitable investment to get involved in such a project. I hope this will be successful but it is certainly worth pursuing.