Written Answers. - Waste Management.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:
82
Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the communication, if any, he has received from the European Commission in regard to Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste, Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste and European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste; the response, if any, he has given to the Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[10848/99]
The European Commission has communicated its view that the failure by some Irish local authorities to impose household waste charges does not respect the requirements of Article 15 of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste. Our response indicated that the requirements of this article are substantially respected and implemented in Ireland, and that significant progress is being made towards full cost recovery by all local authorities of all costs incurred by them in the provision of waste services.
Under section 22 of the Waste Management Act, 1996, local authorities are required, in making waste management plans, to have regard to the need to give effect to the polluter pays principle. The October 1998 policy statement on waste management, Changing Our Ways, elaborates on this obligation, and has been brought to the attention of the Commission. This policy statement emphasises the need for early, major change in the planning, financing and operational approach to waste management by local authorities, and specifically recommends that – local authorities move rapidly towards full cost recoupment for waste collection and disposal services which they provide, as a matter of equity and to incentives waste reduction, the level of waste charges should vary according to usage, and there should be regional consistency in charging policies and a broad equalisation in the level of such charges.
In December 1997, the European Commission issued a reasoned opinion to the effect that Ireland had failed fully to transpose the provisions of Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste. In March 1998, the Commission was provided with a detailed report on the implementation of this Directive by Ireland, and formally notified of draft regulations intended to address outstanding issues. The Waste Management (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations, 1998, completed the transposition of this Directive into Irish legislation.
In July 1998, following earlier correspondence, the European Commission issued a reasoned opinion to the effect that Ireland has failed to fulfil its obligations under Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste, as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC, Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, and European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, with regard to the making and content of waste management plans.
The Commission has been advised that the waste management planning system in Ireland is being very substantially developed and improved, under and in accordance with the Waste Management Act, 1996 and subsequent regulations. Waste management planning authorities are currently subject to legal obligations which significantly exceed those imposed under relevant EU waste directives, and are making very good progress in discharging these obligations.
In the light of this progress, and our commitment to the conclusion of this comprehensive planning process within a matter of months, the Commission has been requested to defer consideration of further action in this matter. My Department maintains regular contact with Commission services to apprise them of ongoing developments.
Sectoral reports on the implementation by Ireland of Directive 75/442/EEC on waste (as amended) and Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste were submitted to the Commission in February 1999.
