Bernard Allen
Question:140 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment if he proposes to bring in Irish national standards concerning design criteria of incineration equipment or emission control limits.
Written Answers. - Pollution Control.
Bernard Allen
Question:142 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment if he proposes to set up standards for the design criteria of incineration equipment.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 142 together.
I refer to the reply to Questions No. 26 of 5 February 1992 which sets out the range of legislative controls applying or proposed in relation to incineration. It is proposed shortly to specify emission limit values for large combustion plants in line with the requirements of Directive 88/609/EEC. While there are no immediate proposals to prescribe emission limit values for other kinds of incineration, new incinerators for solid or liquid wastes are subject to licensing control of emissions under the Air Pollution Act, 1987. It is a matter for plant operators and manufacturers to ensure that the design criteria for particular incineration plant meet pollution control requirements of licences or emission limit values.
Waste incineration will become subject to integrated pollution control under the Environmental Protection Agency Bill when enacted. A draft Directive on the incineration of hazardous wastes, which includes proposed emission limit values to apply on a Community-wide basis, has recently been approved by the European Commission and will be considered by the Council in due course.