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Farm Waste Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Questions (1108)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

1108. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the spreading of human waste as slurry or fertilizer on Irish farmlands; the measures that are in place to protect the environment and human health in relation to this matter and to ensure that there is no negative impact or nuisance caused to the persons living close to where the human waste is being spread; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38288/15]

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Written answers

The spreading of sewage sludge is subject to a range of regulatory controls under waste management, water protection, planning and other applicable legislation. Persons seeking to spread sewage sludge are required, inter alia, under waste management legislation to:

- ensure that sludge is not used except in accordance with a nutrient management plan in line with the Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations 1998;

- satisfy themselves as to whether a Waste Licence, Permit or Certificate of Registration is also required for their proposed spreading activity and apply to the relevant authority where necessary;

- apply to the Local Authority in whose area the sludge is to be stored, as required under the Waste Management (Registration of Sewage Sludge Facility) Regulations 2010;

- supply the information required for the Sludge Register to the Local Authority, in a format and frequency required by the Local Authority; and

- ensure that vehicles transporting the waste hold a Waste Collection Permit as required under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007.

There is also an onus on a person to investigate whether the activity of spreading or the storage of sewage sludge requires Planning Permission.

All land-spreading, including the spreading of sewage sludge, is required to be carried out in accordance with the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014. The Regulations are designed to provide additional protection to waters from agricultural sources and include measures such as:

- set periods when the land spreading of fertilisers are prohibited;

- limits on the land application of fertilisers;

- set distances from water bodies including boreholes, springs and wells for the abstraction of water used for human consumption;

- storage requirements; and

- record keeping.

In addition to the above, local authorities require that the spreading of sewage sludge is subject to compliance with relevant codes of practice, e.g. Code of Good Practice for the Use of Biosolids in Agriculture. This Code has been designed to ensure that the use of biosolids in agriculture will, inter alia, not pose a risk to human, animal or plant health, avoid water and air pollution, and minimise public inconvenience. In this regard, the Code includes guidelines on the minimum buffer zones to be observed when spreading biosolids in the vicinity of particular structures or features, such as sensitive buildings, dwellings, domestic wells, lakes or small watercourses.

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