Written Answers. - Waste Management.
John Gormley
Question:
23
Mr. Gormley
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
if he will reconsider the Government's national waste strategy, which has an emphasis on incineration, in view of the findings in the latest report from the EPA in the United States linking carcinogenic dioxins with incineration.
[14657/00]
Liam Lawlor
Question:
92
Mr. Lawlor
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
if he is considering a review of his directive to local authorities on waste management strategy following findings in a draft study by the US environmental protection agency, which strongly suggests that the carcinogenic dioxins produced by incinerators may be at least ten times more hazardous to human health than earlier believed; if he will avail of expert international advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14849/00]
Deirdre Clune
Question:
100
Ms Clune
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
if he will issue guidelines on the use of incineration following publication of the US report on the dangers of dioxin emissions from such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14811/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 92 and 100 together.
Thermal treatment of waste, carried on in accordance with high environmental standards, is regarded as environmentally preferable to the disposal of waste by landfill and plays a major part in municipal waste management in many EU countries and further afield. Accordingly, the 1998 policy statement on waste management, Changing Our Ways, indicates that, where technically and economically feasible, and subject to appropriate attention to materials recycling, incineration with energy recovery or other advanced thermal processes are among the treatment options which should be considered in an integrated waste management strategy. That remains the position.
There has been no recent report by the US Environmental Protection Agency – USEPA – in this matter. I am aware only of Irish media reports referring, apparently sight unseen, to a leaked draft report being prepared by the USEPA. I understand that this draft report, possibly amended, will be officially published next month following which it will be evaluated by my Department and the Environmental Protection Agency – EPA.
The essential point said to emerge from the leaked draft report is that the USEPA has concluded for the first time that dioxins are a human carcinogen. However, in 1997, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an agency of the World Health Organisation, had already classed the most toxic dioxin compound as a known human carcinogen. The WHO also considers that there is a level of exposure to dioxins below which cancer risk would be negligible. Accordingly, in 1998, it agreed on a tolerable daily intake guideline for dioxins, based on a thorough evaluation of all available data on the toxicological effects of dioxins, and the most up-to-date methods of interpretation.
Dioxins are ubiquitous in the environment, and arise from a range of combustion sources, diffuse and otherwise. Detailed information regarding the known effects of dioxins on human health is contained in a comprehensive published 1999 EU report, Compilation of EU Dioxin Exposure and Health Data. Clearly, because of the potential toxic effects of exposure to dioxins, their emission must, where possible, be strictly controlled and minimised to ensure that exposure does not exceed relevant guidelines and standards.
Irish environmental legislation, in particular the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, provides for the integrated licensing and comprehensive environmental control of waste incineration facilities. The EPA must take the precautionary principle into account and is precluded from granting an integrated licence unless, among other considerations, it is satisfied that the activity concerned will not endanger human health or harm the environment.
In licensing incineration facilities, the EPA already applies a flue gas emission limit value for dioxins of 0.1 nanograms, that is, one ten thousand millionth of a gram per cubic metre of gas emitted. This is an extremely stringent standard, which will shortly be adopted by the EU generally, under the proposed Council directive on the incineration of waste. The European Commission estimates that the implementation of this directive will result in a 99% reduction in emissions of dioxins from waste incineration, relative to 1993-95, and anticipates that the contribution of municipal and clinical waste incineration to overall emissions of dioxins in Europe would be reduced to 0.3%, assuming the output of other sources remains unchanged.
Overall, I am advised that emissions from proposed new thermal treatment facilities, employing modern technologies and subject to compliance with strict environmental standards, should not have any appreciable environmental impact or contribute significantly to background levels of dioxins locally or nationally.
