Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 1992

Vol. 415 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waste Disposal.

Roger T. Garland

Ceist:

384 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Health whether alternatives to the incineration of hospital waste have been investigated such as micro-waving, mechanical disinfection or autoclaving; and if she will outline her views on whether the best way to deal with our hospital waste problem is to adopt a proper integrated waste management plan where wastes are segregated and reduced at source and disposable plastics are phased out.

Roger T. Garland

Ceist:

385 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Health if there are plans for a central hospital waste incinerator; and if so, if she will outline (a) the stage the plans for this case are at (b) the locations which are under consideration for this incinerator and (c) the estimated cost of this development.

Minister for Health (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together.

Segregation of hospital waste into clinical and non-clinical components is an important element of waste disposal policy and is an operational matter for the hospital authorities. The techniques mentioned by the Deputy as possible alternatives to incineration have been investigated and may play a part in the disposal of clinical waste. Unfortunately, none of these techniques is suitable for disposal of the totality of clinical waste.

Reduction at source, and recycling, where appropriate, of non-clinical hospital waste would be desirable and I will ask the hospitals to examine their viability. However, the plastics component of clinical waste is unlikely to reduce.

Plans are at an advanced stage for the provision of a central incinerator to safely dispose of the clinical waste from all the Dublin hospitals. Tenders have been sought from contractors who would supply, install and operate an incinerator to the highest standards. Heat recovery and flue gas scrubbing are included. It is not possible at this stage to say what the annual cost will be.

The location in respect of which tenders are being sought is St. James's Hospital. The proposal will be subject to an environmental impact study and the seeking of planning permission and a licence to operate from Dublin Corporation.