Vol. 489 No. 5
113 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the procedures in place for the disposal of clinical waste; if a contract or licence has been awarded or is pending in this regard; whether these plans are, or are likely to be, in line with national and international criteria for clinical waste disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8516/98]
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 healthcare risk waste throughout the island of Ireland. The board is in the final stages of clarification with a 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 and will be to the highest international standards. In the meantime healthcare risk waste continues to be collected and exported, by a number of waste management contractors, for incineration abroad.
