Avril Doyle
Question:2 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment his views on a national incinerator following the completion of the 1992 survey on hazardous waste; and the amount of intractable hazardous waste.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hazardous Waste.
Pat Rabbitte
Question:42 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment, in view of the figures produced in January 1994 by his Department showing that Ireland's output of hazardous waste has almost doubled in seven years, the proposals, if any, he has to deal with this problem; if he will clarify his reported remarks that his support for an incinerator was personal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 42 together.
Statistics recently published by my Department indicate that Irish hazardous waste production increased by 36 per cent between 1988 and 1992. Of the total of 99,000 tonnes produced in 1992, there was an increase in the proportion recycled-recovered, and in the proportion incinerated, and a decrease in landfilled hazardous wastes. Waste exports have also increased.
All hazardous waste is to some extent intractable, in the sense of requiring special treatment to deal in an environmentally safe way with its toxic or other properties.
I have made it clear, most recently at the conference on hazardous waste management options which was organised last month by Trinity College Dublin and my Department, that Irish policy on hazardous waste must focus both on the promotion of waste prevention and minimisation, and on our capacity properly to manage remaining wastes. I am currently developing an overall national hazardous waste strategy based on this dual approach.
I have regularly stated that I am not opposed to properly regulated incineration as a waste management option. Proposals for improving our waste management infrastructure, in relation to hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, will soon have to be finalised in the context of the operational programme for environmental services. I will have regard to the proceedings of the recent conference, as well as to other views and submissions put to me, in finalising these proposals.
I agree with the Minister's hierarchical system for dealing with waste management and the emphasis he gives to waste prevention and minimisation followed by waste management. He stated that all hazardous waste is intractable, but I disagree with him. Will the Minister indicate the amount of the 99,000 tonnes of hazardous waste revealed in his Department's survey that is intractable? Will he indicate the amount of intractable hazardous waste that would need to be disposed of in an incinerator for which all other methods of disposal and recycling are not suitable?
As I stated, all hazardous waste is to some extent intractable and requires special treatment to deal in an environmentally safe way with its toxic and other properties. It would not be possible to answer the question in the way in which the Deputy has phrased it, but I will refer to the experience of other countries. Countries which appear to have the greatest concern for environmentally safe ways of dealing with hazardous waste have all found that in the long run properly managed incineration which meets the most strict environmental considerations is the safest way of dealing with the problem.
All hazardous waste is not intractable. More than 50 per cent can be recovered or recycled. Regarding the hazardous waste that requires incineration, will the Minister consider using the net figures of intractable waste of 37,000 tonnes instead of the gross figure of 99,000 tonnes of waste generated in discussing this issue? I suggest that the Minister is using the gross figure of waste arising to justify his personal preference for a national incinerator. We should concentrate on the figure of 37,000 tonnes of intractable waste. Will the Minister indicate how he proposes to deal with that waste?
I am happy to debate this subject in that context. We export approximately 11,000 tonnes of waste and currently incinerate 26,000 tonnes on site here.
Will that practice continue; is that the Government's policy?
This has been accepted as the most environmentally safe way to deal with hazardous waste. The question is not whether we should introduce incineration as a method of disposing of hazardous waste but whether we should add to the existing facilities whereby two-thirds of hazardous waste, which is not recycleable, is generated in Ireland in a safe——
Does the Minister favour a national incinerator?
Order.
——environmentally acceptable way.
Order. This questioning cannot go on indefinitely. The Chair has to be conscious of the fact that we have 20 minutes to deal with five priority questions. I am proceeding to another question quite promptly.
Will the Minister state whether he favours a national incinerator?
Order, please.
The Deputy will never find me lacking in making up my mind. If she has a difficulty I cannot remedy it for her.
As Minister for potholes, the Minister has a lot to make up his mind about other than hazardous waste.
I am now calling Question No. 3.