Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 5

Written Answers. - Waste Management.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

54 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he will take to promote greater recycling of waste; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is now no kerbside collection of recyclable waste in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10023/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

As outlined in my policy statement Changing our Ways, overall Government policy on waste management is committed to a dramatic reduction in reliance on landfill, in favour of an integrated waste management approach which will deliver ambitious waste recycling and recovery targets. These include recycling of 35% of municipal waste, recycling at least 50% of C&D waste within a five year period, with a progressive increase to at least 85% over 15 years, and the development of composting and other feasible biological treatment facilities capable of treating up to 300,000 tonnes of organic waste annually.

Local authorities have adopted or are currently engaged in finalising a range of regional and local waste management plans aimed at meeting these recovery targets. Typically, these plans incorporate proposals for household segregation and kerbside collection of organic waste and dry recyclables in urban areas; an extended network of "bring" facilities in rural areas; an increased network of civic amenity sites and waste transfer stations and a range of waste treatment and disposal facilities.

To support the delivery of improved waste management services and infrastructure under these plans, some £650 million is earmarked for capital investment in the development of waste management infrastructure under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Of this, some £100 million in Exchequer-EU funding will be provided to support the development of requisite waste recovery infrastructure over the life of the plan.

The four local authorities in Dublin have adopted a comprehensive regional waste management plan which aims at ensuring the recycling and biological treatment of some 60% of municipal waste arisings, and are actively engaged in its implementation. In this regard, Dublin local authorities are currently finalising arrangements for the establishment, and progressive extension throughout the region, of household segregation and kerbside collection services for organic and dry recyclable materials. I understand that these arrangements, which will effectively subsume the service hitherto provided by Kerbside Dublin Limited, will be announced very shortly. Ultimately, it is intended that this new service will encompass some 80% of households in the region, and it will be supplemented by an extension of the current network of bring banks and the development of new civic amenity sites for the reception of green waste and bulky items, including white and brown goods.

It is my intention to further expand upon the policy issues and guidance outlined in Changing our Ways with the publication this year of a further policy statement focusing on waste minimisation, recycling and waste recovery generally. This policy document will address the factors and practical considerations which are relevant to the achievement of Government policy objectives and targets in this area, and will outline the scope of measures which will be undertaken in the interests of a sustained expansion in recycling performance.