Written Answers. - Waste Management.
Richard Bruton
Question:
196
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
his estimate of the contributions which will be made by householders nationally in 2001 towards the cost of waste management; his estimate of the total con tribution that will be made by industry towards Repak or other schemes designed to cut down or recycle packaging going to households; if he is satisfied with the share borne by householders and by manufacturers of the cost of handling packaging; and the proposals he has under consideration for developing more efficient and equitable methods of funding this cost.
[20519/01]
Estimated charges to be paid by householders to local authorities towards the cost of domestic waste collection services in 2001 are £47 million.
In relation to Repak Limited, fees from member businesses, which finance its activities, are estimated at £9 million in 2001. Repak Limited was established by Irish industry in 1997 as a voluntary compliance scheme to promote, co-ordinate and finance the collection and recovery of packaging waste from the commercial and domestic waste streams, so as to achieve Ireland's recovery and recycling targets under Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste. Industry also contributes to the overall costs of funding local authority services through commercial rates and payment of gate fees for waste disposal at landfill.
The function of Repak Limited is to support the recycling of packaging waste arisings. While its primary role does not relate to packaging waste minimisation, the fees structure applicable to Repak members, based on the quantity and nature of packaging placed on the market, directly incentivises minimisation and reuse of packaging, and reflects the polluter pays principle.
Revenue generated by Repak Limited has been used in support of segregated household waste collection initiatives in Dublin and of a number of companies engaged in waste recovery activities. Such support effectively lessens the costs incurred by local authorities. Repak Limited is also prepared to make further funding available to assist local authorities throughout the country in the establishment of segregated household waste collection services such as that initiated last year in Dublin.
I am satisfied that useful progress has been made by Repak Limited in relation to the collection and recovery of packaging waste. Repak's recycling target for 2001 is 200,000 tonnes, which when achieved will more than meet Ireland's EU target for the recovery of 25% of packaging waste in the current year. In effect, manufacturers and retailers of packaging waste are already making a significant contribution to the collection and recycling of this waste through their membership of Repak Limited. As the fees levied by Repak Limited on its members are determined by its operational costs, I have no direct function in this matter.
With regard to household and commercial waste, the 1998 policy statement on waste management, entitled Changing our Ways, recommended that local authorities providing waste collection services should review their approach to charges with a view to introducing weight related charging to the fullest extent possible. Similarly, landfill gate fees should be levied in relation to the quantity of waste accepted for disposal. These approaches reflect considerations of equity and cost efficiency as well as the incentivisation of waste reduction.
Richard Bruton
Question:
197
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the types of recyclable material for which there are processing operations in place here; the capacity of the facilities in terms of tonnes of recyclable material processed per annum in each case; the way in which the capacity of these facilities compares with the projected volumes of recyclables over the next five years; his views on the economic viability of putting in place processing facilities to meet the full projected volumes of recyclable materials; and the other options available to him to ensure that recycled materials that are separated out do not have to be indefinitely warehoused or sent to landfill.
[20520/01]
Austin Deasy
Question:
220
Mr. Deasy
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
if he intends to subsidise people who are prepared to recycle waste material but who find that it is not economically viable to do so due to economies of scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20736/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 220 together.
The recently published Recycling Directory of Ireland provides comprehensive information on material recyclers and reprocessors operating in Ireland including, in relation to certain companies, the minimum and maximum volumes which are accepted by them. The directory was produced jointly by NI 2000 in Northern Ireland and the Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute in Ireland, with financial assistance from the EU LIFE Environment Programme. I am arranging to have a copy placed in the Oireachtas Library.
The EPA is responsible for the provision of statistics on waste management generally. The National Waste Database, 1998, published by the EPA in March 2000 and available in the Oireachtas Library, provides detailed statistics on waste streams in Ireland, including in relation to the recovery of waste.
The Government is committed to a major reduction in reliance on landfill and to the implementation of an integrated waste management approach which will provide the improved infrastructure to deliver our ambitious national recovery and recycling targets over a 15 year period. These targets include: 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.
While my Department does not have specific figures on the current overall capacity of waste processors, the targets for recovery and recycling set out in the regional and local waste management plans, and reflecting national targets, are likely to require a major increase in national recycling and reprocessing capacity and facilities over the next 15 years.
In relation to issues concerning the economic viability of recycling and reprocessing, I refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 30 May.
Richard Bruton
Question:
198
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
his latest estimates for recycling by householders, by industry, and by the building industry; and the target for recycling he hopes to achieve in the year 2002 across each category.
[20521/01]
Austin Deasy
Question:
219
Mr. Deasy
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the percentage of refuse and waste material which is being recycled at present; the target set by the EU; if he expects to reach this target; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20735/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 219 together.
The latest official data on waste recycling are contained in the National Waste Database Report, 1998, which was published by the Environmental Protection Agency in March 2000. The EPA's estimate is that more than 166,000 tonnes of municipal household and commercial waste was recycled in 1998, giving a recycling rate of 9%.
With regard to industrial waste, the EPA's estimate is that almost 2.1 million tonnes was recycled in 1998, representing a recycling rate of 26.6%. Of the estimated construction and demolition waste reported to have been sent to landfill, the EPA estimated that almost 1.2 million tonnes was recycled and used for construction purposes or as landfill cover, giving a recycling rate of 43.3%.
There are no specific recycling targets set by the EU in relation to these waste streams. However, as outlined in the 1998 policy statement Changing our Ways, overall Government policy on waste management is committed to a significant 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 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; recycling of 35% of municipal waste; and recycling of at least 50% of construction and demolition waste by 2003, with a progressive increase to at least 2013.
In relation to the policies the Government is pursuing to achieve these targets, I refer the Deputies to the reply to Questions Nos. 365 and 366 of 3 July 2001.
With regard to packaging waste, which is a significant element of the household and commercial waste stream already referred to, Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste requires Ireland to achieve a 25% recovery rate for such waste by 1 July 2001, and a 50% recovery rate by 31 December 2005, with associated recycling targets. Repak Limited was established in 1997 by Irish industry as a voluntary compliance scheme to promote, co-ordinate and finance the collection and recovery of packaging waste, so as to achieve Ireland's recovery and recycling targets under the directive. Fees from member businesses finance the activities of Repak. The company has recently reported the recycling of more than 146,000 tonnes of packaging waste in 2000. Its target for 2001 is 200,000 tonnes which, if achieved, would result in Ireland exceeding the directive recovery target in the current year.
My Department will liaise closely with Repak Limited and other relevant bodies with regard to the implementation of appropriate measures to support improved recovery of packaging waste and the achievement of Ireland's 2005 directive targets in respect of packaging waste.
