asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to a report produced by the HRS which showed that almost 20 per cent of toxic waste produced in this country, amounting to more than 4,000 tonnes, could not be traced; if he will outline the measures, if any, which are being taken to prevent the illegal dumping of toxic waste; if it is intended to provide a central national facility for the dumping of toxic waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dumping of Toxic Waste.
24.
The report to which the Deputy refers was compiled several years ago and the situation has since changed considerably. A computerised data base on waste has recently been developed through information furnished by local authorities. The total volume of waste coming within the EC definition of toxic and dangerous waste which was produced in this country in 1985 is put at 52,500 tonnes. Of this total, 66 per cent was disposed of by the producers on their own sites, a further 28 per cent was exported for disposal overseas while the remaining 6 per cent was disposed of by landfill.
Prior to the coming into operation in January 1983 of the European Communities (Toxic and Dangerous Waste) Regulations, 1982, local authorities did not have their present wide range of powers and obligations in relation to hazardous waste disposal. As the control regime has progressively developed, the local authorities are better able to trace waste movements from source to final disposal and to ensure that waste is disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner.
The objective of waste disposal policy is to ensure that all wastes, and particularly any hazardous wastes which call for special disposal arrangements, are safely disposed of without risk to public health or to the environment. In this connection I would refer the Deputy to my announcement on 26 January last that earlier proposals to provide a central waste facility at Baldonnel are being abandoned and that I intend to make capital grants of up to 50 per cent available to private sector waste disposal interests to encourage them to extend the present range of treatment, recovery and disposal facilities for hazardous wastes. I can assure the House that it is my intention to see to it that an adequate range of facilities is made available to cater for the various types of hazardous wastes and that any unauthorised disposal of such wastes is eliminated.