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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Other Questions. - Waste Recycling.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

10 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that individuals, companies and State agencies achieve the specified recycling targets provided for in the Waste Management Act, 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16310/97]

A statutory framework for recycling is provided by the Waste Management Act, 1996. I am satisfied that adequate progress is being made in the development of waste recycling in accordance with specific regulations under the Act and with targets defined, for example, in the national recycling strategy, Recycling for Ireland, published in 1994. The National Waste Database Report published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1996 indicates that the recycling rate for packaging waste increased from 10.3 per cent in 1993 to 15.6 per cent in 1995. The national network of "bring sites" increased from 60 in 1990 to 426 in 1995 and is continuing to expand.

A major stimulus to the recycling of packaging waste is now being provided by the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 1997, which came into effect on 1 July 1997. These regulations impose obligations on packaging producers to take specified measures to promote the collection and recovery of packaging waste. They also provide statutory support for the voluntary industry-led REPAK scheme which has targeted a 27 per cent recycling rate for packaging waste by 2001. Similarly, the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations, 1997, which came into effect on 1 August 1997 will support the collection and recycling of waste plastic from farms. My Department will continue to develop a programme of legislation to promote recycling of appropriate waste streams. The economic viability of recycling generally will be improved by the application of high standards to waste disposal activities in the context of the licensing system operated by the agency under the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations, 1997.

The various recycling grant schemes operated by my Department since 1989 have contributed significantly to the substantial expansion of recycling activities over the period. Financial assistance is available under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services 1994-9 for the provision of recycling infrastructure by local authorities and the private sector and for waste management strategy studies by regional and local authorities to provide a co-ordinated framework for the development of waste management, including recycling.

Departments must take appropriate steps in relation to their own activities. The Green Government Guide published by my Department encourages Departments to use products made from recycled materials and to recycle waste. These and other appropriate national measures will be pursued by my Department to support recycling in the context of the further implementation of national strategy and the Waste Management Act, 1996.

Will the Minister of State agree it is inadequate that the recycling arrangements in place are voluntary? Will he accept that a co-ordinated national plan should be introduced to address this problem given the increase in the volumes of waste being produced?

There are no recycling rates specified in the Waste Management Act. The Act provides a statutory framework on a range of measures which can be taken to promote better waste management. The only statutory targets specified to date are those specified in the Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 1997 which were made to give effect to certain requirements of the packaging directive, including recovery rates established by the directive for packaging waste. All other targets are non-statutory.

The Minister of State mentioned REPAK about which we have heard much during the past two years. Has a chief executive been appointed and what exactly has been achieved in the past 18 months? Has REPAK come close to reaching its targets in any area other than glass? Will the Minister of State agree that success in recycling depends on the availability of recycling facilities for local authorities, companies and individuals? Considerable investment is required by local authorities to provide a segregated waste collection service and receiving parks for recyclable goods and to subsidise those involved in recycling. Is the Minister of State in a position to fund this? Does he believe there is a conflict between value for money audits which is what the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, is asking for, and environmental audits which appears to be the road we should take? Does he recognise there is a definite short-term cost in pursuing sustainable practices in waste management and that local authorities which pursue such practices should not be penalised in terms of the amount they may spend? They may appear to be faring badly when compared with other local authorities which are making no effort to promote recycling.

REPAK appointed a chief executive recently.

That is progress.

I have expressed my impatience at the progress to date regarding REPAK. This was launched in January 1996 and became operational in March 1997. A target recycling rate of 27 per cent of packaging waste was set and is to be achieved in a five-year period. The target was accepted by the Minister as it exceeds the target set by the EU Packaging Directive. REPAK has been established on a voluntary basis by industry. It will be financed by industry and will co-ordinate the recycling, recovery and packaging of waste. In relation to the Deputy's question on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, I cannot comment.

We will not be rude to the Minister of State.

The voluntary sector and REPAK is an important matter, but I cannot answer the Deputy's last question.

The Minister of State should take a chance.

What is the current position regarding the revised EU landfill directive?

The directive of December 1994 set a target recovery rate of 25 per cent per packaging waste by June 2001——

Under the Waste Management Act.

——with higher targets to be achieved by 2005.

In terms of Ireland's input.

There is a feeling that we are going backwards in relation to recycling newspaper. Banks were available for newspaper recycling but it is now more difficult than it was some years ago to recycle newspapers. How will the Minister of State resolve that problem?

That has come to the fore recently and I have launched a campaign with the newspaper industry in relation to recycling newspapers for cattle bedding. All sectors of the newspaper industry were present for that launch and it is an excellent opportunity to solve the problem of the oversupply of newspapers which are not being used.

Is there no market for recycled newspapers? The Minister of State's point refers to reusing newspapers but we are discussing recycling newspapers, which is done very successfully in the United Kingdom. When reading newspapers from the UK one is aware of the amount of recycled paper in them.

Has the Minister of State considered introducing Kerbside, the waste segregation and collection service available in Dublin, on a nationwide basis? Has he considered the cost of that operation? It is the way forward, because we must segregate waste at source and not wait for people to bring it to civic amenity sites.

Rehab is involved in the recycling area. There is an oversupply in the market which is causing the problem.

We still have recycling targets.

That oversupply will have to be looked at. Kerbside and Rehab are doing an excellent job. They have to be monitored and supported, and they are availing of grants.

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