Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 6

Written Answers. - Waste Management.

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

43 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that there is co-ordinated planning and implementation of waste minimisation and management at regional level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10729/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace)

The October 1998 policy statement on waste management – Changing Our Ways – is addressed chiefly to local authorities, recognising that they have a pivotal role in delivering a radical improvement in national waste management performance. The statement is intended to provide a national policy framework for the adoption and implementation by local authorities of strategic waste management plans under which national objectives and targets will be attained.

Changing Our Ways identified the need for meaningful strategic planning, on a regionalised basis; a dramatic reduction in reliance on landfill, in favour of an integrated waste management approach which utilises a range of waste treatment options to deliver ambitious recycling and recovery targets; greater participation by the private sector in the provision of waste management services; a more effective and equitable system of waste charging which incentives waste minimisation and recovery; greater utilisation of legislative instruments extending the scope of producer responsibility initiatives and the mobilisation of public support and participation.

Section 22 of the Waste Management Act, 1996, requires local authorities to make waste management plans in respect of their functional areas, and provides that two or more local authorities may jointly make such plans.

Reflecting the waste hierarchy, the statutory objective of these plans is to prevent or minimise the production and harmful nature of waste; encourage and support the recovery of waste; ensure that such waste as cannot be prevented or recovered is safely disposed of and address the need to give effect to the polluter pays principle in relation to waste disposal.

Under the 1996 Act, a local authority is required to take such steps as are appropriate and necessary to attain, in relation to its functional area, the objectives of a waste management plan made by that authority.

Local authorities have been encouraged by my Department to adopt a regional approach to this planning process, with a view to the more efficient provision of services and infrastructure, and carry out preliminary waste management strategy studies, to provide a context for evaluating available options and for identifying the measures, or combination of measures, most likely to optimise waste management.

The response of local authorities has been very positive. Some 32 authorities are involved in or have adopted regional waste management strategy studies, or are otherwise committed to the making of regional waste management plans. Grant assistance of over £1.1 million has been allocated under the EU-funded Operational Programme for Environmental Services, 1994-1999 in respect of a number of strategy studies.

It is evident that, in their strategic planning exercise, local authorities are being guided by Changing Our Ways, and that regional waste management plans will seek to give effect to the policy objectives and targets outlined in that statement. My Department will continue to liaise closely with local authorities as this planning process is brought to a conclusion, and we will endeavour to provide ongoing support, advice and guidance to local authorities with regard to the implementation of their waste management functions. A number of measures are already in train which will support the efforts of local authorities to deliver a radically improved waste management performance.

A specially resourced unit has been set up in my Department to pursue the implementation of public private partnership arrangements, and will provide advice to local authorities with regard to procurement of necessary waste management infrastructure.

My Department has formally invited the construction industry to develop proposals for a producer responsibility initiative aimed at meeting proposed recovery targets for construction and demolition waste, and initial discussions have taken place with the main representative organisations involved. The motor industry has also been invited to develop proposals in relation to end-of-life vehicles, while initial discussions have taken place with industry concerning waste electronic and electrical equipment.

I am also developing a significant new and well resourced environmental awareness campaign, which will promote more environmentally sustainable behaviour, including waste minimisation and recovery. It is my intention to prepare a policy statement on recycling and waste recovery generally, for publication later this year. This policy document will address the factors and practical considerations which are relevant to the achievement of Government policy objectives in this area, and outline the scope of measures which will be undertaken in support of better recycling performance.