Joe Higgins
Question:275 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the Government policy relating to the disposal of waste by Government Departments. [7250/04]
View answerWednesday, 3 March 2004
Questions (198)
Written answers
Government policy in relation to waste is set out in the policy statements Waste Management: Changing Our Ways (1998) and Preventing and Recycling Waste: Delivering Change (2002) and the Waste Management Acts 1996 to 2003 place a general duty of care on holders of waste to ensure that waste is managed in a manner that does not cause environmental pollution. In so far as my own Department is concerned, the Deputy may wish to note that the Department's offices at the Custom House were certified last September to ISO 14001:1996, the international standard for environmental management systems. This certification followed an audit of the Department's environmental management systems, including those relating to waste management, by an accredited body, the National Standards Authority of Ireland.
While it would be a matter for other Departments to ensure that their waste management practices comply with the policy requirements outlined above, my Department has provided support in the form of a green Government guide which issued to all Departments. In addition, building on my own Department's success in achieving ISO 14001 certification, consideration is currently being given to mechanisms through which the initiative might be extended to other Departments.