Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 1

Written Answers. - Waste Disposal.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

24 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed regarding the danger of contamination to drinking water arising from the illegal dumping of medical waste; the steps being taken to deal with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31117/01]

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

34 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of cases of illegal dumping of medical waste drawn to the attention of his Department during the past 12 months; the steps being taken to prevent such illegal dumping, especially having regard to the potential health hazards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31118/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

132 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to combat illegal dumping throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31309/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 34 and 132 together.

I understand that Wicklow County Council is currently dealing with two cases involving the unauthorised disposal of health care waste, and it is suspected that there may be a third site where such waste may have been disposed of. There are reports in the media today of the discovery of hospital waste dumped at a location in north Dublin. I am not aware of any other such cases over the past year.

The possibility of contamination of ground and surface waters is an obvious concern in such cases. I understand that there is currently no evidence of water contamination arising from the sites identified in Wicklow. I am not currently aware of the circumstances of the Dublin site.

I share the general concern regarding these and other instances of unauthorised dumping of waste. Such activity is both illegal and grossly irresponsible. Dumping of clinical waste is, because of its nature, particularly reprehensible. Under section 59 of the Waste Management Act, 1996, each local authority is responsible for the supervision and enforcement of the relevant provisions of the Act in relation to the holding, recovery or disposal of waste within its functional area. Local authorities must deploy the necessary resources to ensure that they effectively oversee waste movements and activities within their functional areas and take immediate action, utilising the very significant powers and remedies available to them under the 1996 Act, to counter unauthorised activity.

The introduction of the proposed landfill levy early next year will generate significant revenues, and it is my intention to make a large proportion of this funding directly available to local authorities to support dedicated and measurable enforcement initiatives aimed at controlling fly-tipping and unauthorised waste activities. I have asked the City and County Managers Association to submit proposals to me in this regard.

Recent legislation will facilitate better control of waste movements and should prove valuable in combating illegal dumping of waste. Under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations, 2001, commercial waste collectors were required to apply to local authorities for a waste collection permit before 30 November. Local authorities can require permit holders to ensure that waste collected is transferred only to an authorised waste facility, and to maintain detailed records in relation to the quantity and nature of wastes collected, and the manner in which it is dealt with. A local authority is entitled to refuse to grant a collection permit, or to revoke one that had been granted, in the event that an applicant or permittee is found guilty of any one of a number of specified waste offences, including unauthorised dumping.

As an immediate step, my Department has formally requested the Criminal Assets Bureau to consider whether, in the public interest, they should investigate the possibility of systematic and illegal profiteering being involved in unauthorised waste dumping.