Bernard Allen
Question:177 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number sold and the proportion of aluminium cans sold here containing drinks which are collected and recycled. [17542/02]
Written Answers. - Waste Management.
The latest official data on packaging waste arisings and recovery are contained in the national waste database report for 1998, published by the EPA in March 2000. The EPA estimates that 11,780 tonnes of aluminium packaging waste arose in the household and commercial waste streams in 1998. This includes aluminium beverage cans as well as other containers, such as aluminium trays for fast food, carton tops, etc. However, the proportion of aluminium cans within this waste stream is not given and my Department does not have information on the number of aluminium beverage cans placed annually on the Irish market.
Based on data supplied by Repak Ltd, the voluntary compliance scheme established by Irish Industry to meet Ireland's packaging waste recovery targets, 719 tonnes of aluminium beverage containers were recovered for recycling in 1998. This tonnage represents 6% of all aluminium packaging waste but would represent a higher proportion of aluminium beverage cans placed on the market.
Repak Ltd. has further indicated that it supported the collection and recovery of over 1,350 tonnes of aluminium beverage containers in 2001 – an increase of over 600 tonnes on the 1998 figure.
Question No. 178 answered with Question No. 176.
Bernard Allen
Question:179 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the amount of packaging waste which was recycled in 1999, 2000, 2001 and to date in 2002; the way in which this figure is measured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17544/02]
The EPA has responsibility for the compilation of national waste statistics. In accordance with Commission Decision 97/138/EC, pursuant to Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, the EPA is required to submit annual packaging waste returns to the European Commission.
The return in respect of 1999 estimated packaging waste arisings at 704,038 tonnes, of which an estimated 122,586 tonnes was recycled – indicating an estimated recycling rate of 17.4% in that year. The returns in respect of 2000 and 2001 have not yet been submitted but Repak, the voluntary compliance scheme established by industry to meet Ireland's packaging waste recovery targets, has indicated that it has recovered at least 25% of packaging waste in 2001, over 230,000 tonnes, thereby facilitating the achievement of Ireland's packaging waste recovery target for 2001 as set by Directive 94/62/EC.
Detailed national waste statistics in respect of all waste streams are published at three-yearly intervals by the EPA. The most recent national waste database report, in respect of 1998, was published in March 2000. The next database report, for 2001, is in preparation by EPA. When compiling the three-yearly database report, a best estimate of packaging waste arisings and the amount recycled – in respect of each packaging material, that is, paper, glass, plastics, metals and others, is obtained by combining detailed information received from industry, waste contractors, recycling organisations and local authorities. Data in respect of intervening years is compiled by using the information contained in the preceding three-yearly database report and data acquired from further surveys of the above-mentioned sectors.
Bernard Allen
Question:180 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the targets and timescale for the reduction of bio-degradable municipal waste going to landfill; the measures he intends to take to reach these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17545/02]
Bernard Allen
Question:283 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress made to date towards the targets set by him in October 1998 of a 50% diversion of household waste away from landfill, a 65% reduction in biodegradable waste consigned to landfill, a recycling of 35% of municipal waste, and a 80% reduction in methane emissions from landfill; and the percentages achieved to date in respect of each percentage. [17671/02]
Bernard Allen
Question:284 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to give assistance to households to adopt individualised or localised systems of composting and anaerobic digestions of organic domestic refuse. [16762/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 283 and 284 together.
Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste requires member states, not later than July 2003, to prepare a national strategy for the reduction of biodegradable waste going to landfills. Progressive targets are set in the directive so that biodegradable municipal waste quantities consigned to landfill must be reduced to 35% of the total amount, by weight, of this waste produced in 1995 by 2016.
These targets were anticipated in the 1998 policy statement, Changing our Ways, which set out specific overall targets to the year 2013. These are to achieve a minimum national 65% reduction, over 15 years, in biodegradable wastes consigned to landfill; and develop composting and other feasible biological treatment facilities capable of treating up to 300,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste per annum.
In addition, the 2002 policy statement, Preventing and Recycling Waste: Delivering Change, reaffirmed a commitment to draw up a national strategy on biodegradable waste. This is now under consideration.
The local and regional waste management plans, which are now being implemented following the enactment of the Waste Management (Amendment) Act, 2001, incorporate proposals for household segregation and separate collection of organic waste and dry recyclables in urban areas; a range of centralised composting and other biological treatment facilities; support for home composting of food and garden waste, especially in rural areas; an extended network of bring facilities in rural areas, typically with a tar get density of one facility per 500 population; and an increased network of civic amenity sites and waste transfer stations.
Some local authorities have commenced their own home composting initiatives, providing composting bins, wormeries and other necessary home composting equipment to households in their areas, at subsidised rates to the householder.
My Department's capital grants scheme will provide assistance towards the provision of materials recovery and biological treatment facilities, including centralised composting facilities, in accordance with regional and local waste management plans. Support from the Environment Fund, funded by the plastic bag and landfill levies, may also be available for suitable projects. Direct subvention of householders by my Department is not however envisaged.
Progress towards meeting the targets set out in Changing our Ways will be reported by the EPA which is responsible for the provision of statistics on waste management generally. The national waste database report for 1998, published by the EPA in March 2000, is the most recent report available. The report, which is updated on a three-yearly basis, provides detailed statistics on waste streams in Ireland including details on the recovery of waste. A copy of the report is available in the Oireachtas Library. The next national waste database report for 2001 is currently being prepared by the EPA.