Frances Fitzgerald
Question:83 Ms. F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, that has been made in relation to developing a national plan for the disposal of hospital waste. [14651/95]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waste.
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:84 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the alternative technologies, other than incineration, he would wish to see hospitals develop in order to cope with hospital waste. [14652/95]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. There is a commitment in the policy document, A Government of Renewal, to bring forward a programme to replace existing incinerators for the disposal of clinical and hospital waste with new non-incineration technologies. My Department proposes to implement this commitment by arranging for tenders to be invited from specialist waste disposal contractors for the provision of a collection and non-incineration disposal service. The tendering process will be in accordance with the EU tendering procedures for public procurement. Consultations with the health agencies are continuing and contract documentation is in course of preparation.
There are several alternative technologies to incineration available and others are being developed. In essence they each consist of a shredding operation followed or preceded by the application of heat to achieve disinfection. The heat may be applied by means of steam, microwaves, or dry heat.