Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Waste Management.

Michael Noonan

Question:

503 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, due to the partial implementation of the ELV Directive, serious damage has been caused to the car and light steel recycling infrastructure, leading to a reduction in the recycling of waste metal, an increase in illegal dumping of cars and other metals, and consequent damage to the environment and tourism; if the Government will be liable to fines from the EU for breaching the ELV Directive unless measures are taken by 21 April 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9508/02]

Michael Noonan

Question:

504 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action he intends to take to ensure the viability of the ferrous metal recycling industry here; if his Department will provide a subsidy to a company (details supplied) in order to help with the cost of landfill of disposable waste, MSR, associated with the industry, or alternatively subsidise the shredding of cars and light metals which currently have a negative value due to the high costs associated with landfill, thus promoting the recycling and depollution of ELVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9509/02]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 504 together.

The EU Directive on End-of-Life Vehicles (2000/53/EC) requires member states to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive by 21 April 2002. Apart from legal transposition, the directive provides certain discretion to member states as to when various provisions must be implemented. My Department is progressing work with a view to early transposition and implementation. However, full transposition also depends on a number of issues being finalised by the European Commission. There is no likelihood, therefore, of Ireland being subject to fines for non-implementation in the near future.

As part of the progress towards transposition and implementation of the Directive, my Department has been actively engaged with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), the Irish Motor Vehicle Recyclers Association (IMVRA), the Metal Merchants Association of Ireland (MMAI) and other concerned parties with a view to developing a producer responsibility initiative which would implement a number of the directive's provisions.

These stakeholder bodies submitted an agreed initial proposal for an end-of-life vehicle (ELV) management scheme towards the end of last year. This replaces earlier proposals by SIMI alone. Consultants have been engaged by the stakeholders to assist in the development of a finalised proposal. It is my intention to secure early agreement on a detailed management scheme with the support of all stakeholders as soon as possible. Once operational, it is envisaged the directive will facilitate the development of a modern, efficient and sustainable vehicle dismantling, treatment and shredding sector.

Difficulties now being experienced by the ferrous metal recycling or vehicle shredding industry have resulted in part from revisions to the European Waste Catalogue which came into force on 1 January 2002. These re-classified non de-polluted end-of-life vehicles and waste containing dangerous substances generated by the recovery of metals from vehicles – auto shredder residue (ASR) – as hazardous waste. The increasing cost of landfill has also impacted on the sector. I will consider, with EPA, the scope for appropriate action to ensure safe disposal of ASR in landfills.

Having regard to with the principle of producer responsibility, it is not proposed to provide a subsidy from public funds for the ongoing costs of recycling operations. Producer responsibility initiatives already operate in Ireland, in the areas of packaging waste and farm plastics waste, where producers are required to take steps to recover waste or alternatively to contribute to, and participate in compliance schemes set up to recover the waste in question. These schemes in turn provide subsidies for the collection and recovery of materials for recycling, which provide economic support for the recycling sector.

The proposed producer responsibility scheme to manage end-of-life vehicles will, in turn, improve the viability of the dismantling and metal recycling sector.

The new scheme of capital grants for waste recovery infrastructure, including recycling infrastructure, amounting to €127 million in the period to 2006 and proceeds from the Environment Fund, which will be funded by the recently introduced levy on plastic shopping bags and the new levy on landfilling, will provide another source of potential future support for recycling. In addition, in recognition of the positive environmental contribution of the recycling sector, the Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Regulations 2002 provide that the residue from certain reprocessing activities – including non-metallic ASR – will be exempted from the €15 per tonne levy which will apply on the disposal of waste at landfill with effect from 1 June 2002.