Vol. 481 No. 3
51 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health and Children if an adequate service has been put in place for the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of health care risk waste in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15922/97]
A joint waste management board, representative of my Department and the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland, has received tenders for the service of collection, treatment and disposal of health care risk waste throughout Ireland. The board is in the final stages of clarification with the preferred tenderer and it is hoped that a contract can be signed in the near future. The treatment process will be a non-incineration one employing shredding and disinfection. In the meantime health care risk waste continues to be collected and exported, by a number of waste management contractors, for incineration abroad.
