Vol. 550 No. 2
257 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children if hospitals in the Eastern Regional Authority area participate in recycling schemes for glass, paper or cans; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a hospital (details supplied) participates in such a scheme. [7612/02]
Responsibility for waste management, including recycling in all public hospitals in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area, rests with the ERHA and I would not generally be aware of detailed arrangements in any particular hospital.
My Department has been playing an important role in promoting the environmentally conscious management of waste in the health services. In 1994, my Department issued a health services waste policy to all health boards and acute voluntary hospitals. The policy advocates good environmental and health and safety practices in the management, handling and disposal of all wastes generated in hospitals. The policy promotes the environmental principles of reduction, reuse and recycling. It places particular emphasis on the segregation of different waste systems. A degree of waste segregation is now practised throughout our hospitals and work is ongoing to bring about further improvements. In addition a comprehensive environmental management system leading to the environmental quality ISO14001 certification, which has been on trial at one hospital in Dublin, is now being promoted amongst the health boards.
