Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 1997

Vol. 475 No. 7

Written Answers. - Waste Recycling.

Seán Haughey

Question:

104 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment the practical steps, if any, which are being taken to encourage recycling of bottles, cans, clothes and newspapers; if door-to-door household collectors will be appointed for all housing estates in the Dublin Corporation area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6342/97]

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

127 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to actively promote and increase recycling of domestic rubbish in the Dublin area in particular; when the pilot programme run by Dublin Kerbside will be expanded to meet the urgent demands of the residents of Dublin South for recycling of their domestic refuse; the costings, if any, which have been carried out by his Department on recycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6062/97]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 127 together.

Good progress is being made in the development of waste recycling and the achievement of national recycling targets. The various recycling grant schemes which have been operated by my Department since 1989 have contributed significantly to the substantial expansion of recycling activities and infrastructure which has occurred in that period. The network of recycling bring-centres has increased from some 60 sites in 1988 to over 400 sites in 1996 and is still expanding. The recycling rate for waste packaging has increased from 10.3 per cent in 1993 to 15.6 per cent in 1995. A major stimulus to the recycling of packaging waste is expected from the recently published draft Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations and from the establishment and mobilisation of the industry led REPAK scheme.

Financial assistance is available under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services 1994-1999 for the provision of recycling infrastructure and for the carrying out of waste management strategy studies by regional and local authorities. Grant assistance of some £2.25 million has already been allocated. This includes grants for recycling facilities in the south Dublin area and the development of a joint waste management strategy by the four Dublin local authorities. Consideration of proposals for segregated collection systems for household waste will form an integral part of this.

Kerbside Dublin is a private sector initiative under the auspices of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. While Kerbside has received regular grant assistance from my Department and the Dublin local authorities, extension of its services would be a matter for its management board.

The comparative costs of different waste management options, including recycling, have been analysed in the report "The Economics of Solid Waste Management in Ireland" which was commissioned by my Department and published by the Economic and Social Research Institute in November 1995. A copy of the report is available in the Oireachtas Library.