Vol. 525 No. 3
95 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the practical measures in place to support the higher recycling of waste here; and the way in which it is proposed to implement the projected recycling targets contained in many waste management plans being adopted by local authorities. [24714/00]
As outlined in the 1998 policy statement, Changing our Ways, overall Government policy on waste management is committed to a dramatic reduction in reliance on landfill in favour of an integrated waste management approach, which will deliver ambitious recovery and recycling targets over a 15 year period. These include: a diversion of 50% of overall household waste away from landfill; a minimum 65% reduction in biodegradable waste consigned to landfill; the development of composting and other feasible biological treatment facilities capable of treating up to 300,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste per annum; and recycling of 35% of municipal waste.
Having regard to these targets, current and proposed regional waste management plans incorporate proposals for household segregation and separate collection of organic waste and dry recyclables in urban areas;an extended network of "bring" facilities in rural areas, typically with a target density of one facility per 500 population; an increased network of civic amenity sites and waste transfer stations; a range of centralised composting and other biological treatment facilities; and support for home composting of food and garden waste, especially in rural areas.
It is imperative local authorities complete the current strategic planning process and proceed with the implementation of waste management plans to build upon the good progress that has been made since 1998. The national network of "bring" facilities has increased to more than 1,000 sites. A segregated household collection service for recyclables is being progressively extended throughout the Dublin region. Repak Ltd., which was established by industry to organise and finance the recovery of packaging waste, recently initiated a new scheme to give waste contractors an incentive to recover additional amounts of packaging waste, while further industry-led initiatives are being pursued in relation to construction and demolition waste, end of life vehicles and electrical and electronic waste.
Additional Information.
To support the delivery of improved waste services and infrastructure under these regional plans, some £650 million is earmarked for capital investment in the development of waste management infrastructure under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Of this, some £100 million in Exchequer-EU funding will be provided to support the development of requisite waste recovery infrastructure over the life of the plan.
I will shortly publish a policy statement on waste prevention and recovery. This will address in detail the factors and practical considerations that are relevant to the achievement of policy objectives and targets in this area, and will outline the scope of measures that will be undertaken in support of a better national recycling performance.
Will the Minister admit that while everyone, including the Minister and ourselves, is in favour of recycling, the necessary infrastructure is not in place? There is no recycling of plastics here and, with the exception of paper-cardboard, we export many other such products. Does the Minister have proposals to introduce a public private partnership project to put in place the necessary infrastructure?
Is the Minister aware that most European cities have a twin bin system? Refuse lorries collect waste from twin bins in which dry recycables can be stored on one side. Will the Minister take the simple step of introducing a fleet, particularly in the local authority sector, of refuse collections that will facilitate a twin bin system? These are practical measures that could be introduced in terms of infrastructure and in relation to procurement. Will he adopt a positive bias to buy the products of the recycling industry to ensure there will be viable markets for them? There are practical steps he can take and will he take them?
Again, I do not disagree with much of what Deputy Yates said, but waste management is a matter for local authorities. It is for local authorities to introduce these systems and I favour some of the systems the Deputy mentions, but that is what is contained in the regional waste management plans. I mentioned some of them, in particular the household segregation and separate col lection of organic waste and dry recyclables in urban areas, extending the network of bring-back facilities in rural areas; all these measures are in the waste management plans.
Unfortunately, the whole focus of the regional waste management plans is on the end solution. Most of the plans refer to integrated solutions and to trying to achieve recycling rates.
Of the £640 million for the development of a waste infrastructure in the national plan, how much is allocated to the development of recycling facilities?
There is a total of £650 million for this in the national plan and £100 million of that sum is Exchequer and EU funded. To reply to Deputy Yates' question also, the remainder will come from the private sector in public-private—
That is not the answer.
Let me finish.
The Minister is heading off on another track.
No, I was explaining the total amount. The actual amounts expended on this will be part of the operational programme when it is finalised.
How much?
It is a simple answer. Does the Deputy not understand?
The simple answer is £50 million of the £650 million but the Minister will not put it on the record.
Does the Minister believe the targets he mentioned will be met by wishing they will be met? He must be aware that recycling is not a profit-making business and is more expensive than using landfills. What direct subsidies will the Minister offer people or local authorities setting up recycling facilities? What has his Department done in the last three years except ask local authorities to adopt waste management plans? Has his Department done anything else to advance recycling, which is the answer to the problem and is laid out in all the regional plans?
Will the Minister earmark a certain amount of money for recycling when he allocates money to local authorities? Perhaps that is one way of getting around this difficulty.
With reference to what the Government has done in the last three years, the number of bring-backs and amenity sites has increased substantially in recent years.
They have not.
They have; they have increased in the last two years in particular. The number of bring-backs is now estimated to have increased to over 1,000. In the period 1994 to 1999 70 local authorities invested in various recycling infrastructure projects under the operational programme and they will have the opportunity to do so again. Those which have not adopted regional waste management plans and which are not operating the polluter pays principle will not be eligible for EU funds.
