Vol. 496 No. 3
278 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in providing facilities for the disposal of hospital waste in the Dublin area; the currrent situation in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22683/98]
A joint waste management board, representative of my Department and the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland, has appointed contractors to provide the service of collection, transport, treatment and disposal of the clinicial and health care risk waste which arises in hospitals throughout the island of Ireland. The treatment process will consist of shredding and decontamination. The contract includes a significant element of recycling in that metals and plastics will be recovered for conversion to useful products and the combustible residue will be converted to refuse-derived fuel.
The programme envisages the first treatment plant, located in Dublin, commencing operation early in 1999. The recycling plant will follow in 2000 and in the interim the treated waste will go to landfill. The non-risk waste arising in hospitals in Dublin and throughout the country will continue to follow the municipal waste route, which at present is to landfill.
