Vol. 555 No. 1
32 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether Ireland compares unfavourably with other European countries in relation to litter and waste management; if he is in favour of the introduction of a system of segregated collection of waste in all areas; his proposals in this regard; and the timespan and cost involved. [16455/02]
37 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans for the implementation of the commitment given in the Agreed Programme for Government to progressively extend door to door collections of recyclables to most remaining urban centres; if a timetable has been set for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17362/02]
362 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his proposals to extend door to door collections of recyclables to urban centres in accordance with the Government's programme; and if special funding will be made available to local authorities for the purpose. [17770/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 37 and 362 together.
Regional and local waste management plans provide for the progressive introduction in urban areas of source segregation and separate collection of household wastes in three distinct streams – dry recyclable materials, organic waste and residual wastes that cannot be recovered. Source separation of recyclable wastes from commercial and industrial sources is also provided for. The timescale for roll-out of segregated collection services in an area is contingent on the availability of materials recovery facilities, at which dry recyclables are sorted and aggregated for onward delivery to reprocessing outlets, and biological treatment facilities for organic wastes. In accordance with the commitments in the Agreed Programme for Government, substantial capital grant assistance is being made available to support the early development of waste recovery infrastructure.
33 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the investigation which has been held into the circumstances in which hormone contaminated waste was exported from this country, incorrectly classified, leading to a major food scare in Belgium; the steps being put in place to ensure that such an incident does not occur again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17356/02]
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259/93 provides for the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community. While this Council regulation is directly applicable in member states, the Waste Management (Transfrontier Shipment of Waste) Regulations, 1998, provides for certain supporting administrative measures. In particular, they provide that, for the purposes of implementing Council Regulation 259/93, local authorities are the competent authorities in respect of the export of waste from the State, while the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is the competent authority in respect of the import of waste into, or its transit through, the State.
Under Council Regulation 259/93, wastes are categorised as either "green list", "amber list" or "red list" wastes. Green list wastes may be exported for recovery without prior notification to relevant competent authorities. Amber list wastes require prior notification and may be exported in the absence of objections from relevant competent authorities within a 30 day period, that is, a tacit consent procedure applies. Red list wastes or wastes not specifically assigned to the green or amber lists, require prior written consent from the relevant competent authorities.
In July 2002, waste from a pharmaceutical company that was subject to an integrated pollution control, IPC, licence granted by the EPA was implicated in the contamination of pig food by the hormonal substance MPA, in Belgium and the Netherlands. It appears that the waste concerned was shipped to Belgium by an Irish waste broker, acting on behalf of the producer, and was classified as green list material. Accordingly, it was not subject to the prior notification procedures laid down for amber and red list wastes. When notified of the contamination problem, the EPA took immediate steps to identify the producer of the waste concerned and halt all further shipments of process waste from that source. The facilities of the producer and broker concerned were inspected and all relevant records held by both parties and the agency were reviewed.
