Vol. 492 No. 3
30 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the date on which he will make a policy statement on waste management; whether this statement will incorporate concrete proposals on waste incineration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13867/98]
I expect that the policy statement on waste management, now in preparation, will be substantially completed in the next month, and will be published as soon as possible thereafter.
Government policy in this area is based on a commitment to the waste hierarchy, prioritising first the prevention and minimisation of waste; second, recovery, and third, environmentally sustainable disposal. A comprehensive review of waste management strategies is being carried out at present by all local authorities for purposes of the development of waste management plans under the Waste Management Act, 1996. The proposed statement will support and further inform the making of waste management plans by local authorities, addressing the factors and practical considerations which are relevant to the achievement of Government policy objectives for waste. In particular, the statement will emphasise the need to bring about a major reduction in the quantity of waste disposed to landfill and the related need to consider the suitability of all available alternatives to landfill, including thermal treatment options.
It is not intended, nor is it the function of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, to bring forward concrete proposals for particular waste management facilities as part of the statement.
