Vol. 413 No. 6
14 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the proposals which he has in place to implement the waste disposal and dumping regulations which are included in all EC directives issued to date; and if he will notify local authorities about the grant aid he will allocate for the development of proper landfill sites.
Local authorities are responsible for the planning, organisation, authorisation and supervision of waste disposal operations in their areas under the Waste Regulations, 1979, which give effect to the Council Directive of 15 July 1975, 75/442/EEC on waste; the Toxic and Dangerous Waste Regulations, 1982, which give effect to the Council Directive of 20 March 1978, (78/319/EEC) on toxic and dangerous waste; and the Waste Oils Regulations, 1984, which give effect to Council Directive 75/439/EEC of 16 June 1975 on the disposal of waste oils, and implement a permit system in respect of disposal undertakings.
Under the Waste Regulations, 1984, which implement Council Directive 76/403/EEC of 6 April 1976 relating to disposal of PCB's holders of PCB waste must notify the Minister for the Environment of the holding of the waste and the planned disposal method. The Minister is empowered to give directions in relation to the disposal which must be complied with.
Under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations, 1988, which implement Council Directive 84/631/EEC of 6 December 1984, as amended, local authorities are responsible for the supervision and control of transfrontier shipments of hazardous waste in so far as exports from the State are concerned: the Minister for the Environment is the competent authority for imports of hazardous waste to the State.
Under the Asbestos Waste Regulations, 1990, which give effect to the Council Directive 87/217/EEC of 19 March 1987 on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos in so far as it relates to the disposal of waste asbestos, there are provisions with regard to the transport and deposit of such waste. Comprehensive legislation on waste which is being prepared by my Department at present is intended, inter alia, to provide an improved framework for the transposition into Irish law of these, and more recently adopted, EC waste directives.
As stated in reply to Question No. 213 of 12 March 1991 as reported in the Official Report, column 610, volume 406, the disposal of domestic waste has always been the responsibility of local authorities and I have no proposals to change the position. Grants of up to 50 per cent are available from my Department to local authorities towards the capital cost of providing co-disposal facilities which would cater for industrial as well as domestic wastes.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply but he did not advert to the EC requirements on landfill sites. Is the Minister aware that one local authority have spent approximately £1.5 million developing a landfill site in the midlands? Does he have proposals to meet this type of expenditure by local authorities?
That is a separate question. If the Deputy puts down a question on the issue I will deal with it.
The Minister did not refer in his lengthy reply to the disposal of CFCs from refrigerators. How much of the grant of £50,000 made available to local authorities in 1991 has been taken up for the disposal of CFCs? Have the Department any proposals for the disposal of CFSs?
I do not have that information, because it was not sought in the question. However where local authorities provide co-disposal facilities, grants of up to 50 per cent are available from my Department.
Will the Minister state the current Government policy on the disposal of toxic waste and whether the Government have finalised their view on the siting of a toxic waste incinerator?
Is that the one in the midlands?
No decision has yet been made on that.
May I take it from that reply that the Minister, as an Ulsterman, does not propose to locate a toxic waste incinerator in Derry?
That is a separate question.
Would the Minister agree that we should, if possible, keep ahead of EC regulations? An EC regulation on permeability of waste sites to issue shortly will require that impermeable membranes be placed under such sites. This will give rise inevitably to an increase in waste disposal costs. What steps are being taken to minimise waste production and encourage recycling on a countrywide basis?
I agree with Deputy Garland that we should not be entirely dependent on EC Directive. As the Deputy may be aware a Bill on waste is being prepared at present.
I am glad to hear that such a Bill is being prepared. The disposal of waste, as Deputy Garland rightly said, is one of the leading questions facing the environment. Will the Minister indicate when we might expect that legislation?
It is a very early stage.
As the Minister is aware, the problem of landfill sites is countrywide and county councils will be expected to provide other facilities. In putting down this question I afforded the Minister an opportunity to outline his policy on landfill sites and to indicate if he will be giving money to local authorities in order that they might purchase suitable sites to comply with the new EC regulations.
As I stated in my reply, I have made money available — there are grants of up to 50 per cent available — for co-disposal landfill sites which would cater for industrial and domestic waste.
Will the Minister outline the timescale for a Government decision on the siting of a toxic waste incinerator or for the disposal of toxic waste?
The Deputy should put down a separate question.
