Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Waste Management.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

653 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has carried out an assessment with regard to the development of a crisis in waste management in relation to the completion of the life of landfills within local authorities and the lack of an agreed replacement beyond this period to cater for growing refuse requirements. [24982/00]

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

659 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his policy with regard to the opening of additional landfill sites in view of the fact that many of the country's landfill sites are now nearing capacity and others have been forced to close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23966/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 659 together.

Under the Waste Management Act, 1996, each local authority is required to make a waste management plan in respect of its functional area, which inter alia must address infrastructural requirements in relation to the recovery and disposal of waste, and provide, or arrange for the provision and operation of, such facilities as may be necessary for the recovery and disposal of household waste arising within its functional area. The Minister for the Environment and Local Government has no function in relation to the provision by individual local authorities of requisite waste management infrastructure.

The 1998 policy statement, Changing our Ways, outlined the Government's policy objectives in relation to waste management and provided a national policy framework for the adoption and implementation by local authorities of strategic waste management plans. It strongly endorsed a major reduction in reliance on landfill, in favour of an integrated waste management approach utilising a range of waste treatment options to deliver effective and efficient waste services and ambitious recycling and recovery targets. In this context, Changing our Ways addressed the need for short-term flexibility in relation to the provision and utilisation of landfill capacity. It stated that there may be situations where local authorities face an imminent shortage of disposal capacity, with some situations so acute as to require action in advance of the outcome of the current strategic planning process. A commitment to the provision of new landfill facilities, in isolation from the broader issues which require to be addressed, should as far as possible be avoided. Every effort should be made to develop interim solutions which do not prejudice the outcome of longer term strategic solutions.

Where immediate landfill capacity problems exist, action to extend the life of existing landfill facilities, rather than to provide new landfill sites, should be a priority. This can be facilitated by diverting as much waste as possible to composting and materials recovery, diverting water treatment and sewage sludges for use in agriculture and forestry, as set out in the 1993 national sludge strategy study, and seeking access to landfill capacity available in neighbouring local authority areas.

Where a local authority determines that it has no option but to provide additional landfill capacity in advance of completion of the strategic planning process, consideration should first be given to the phased development of small scale cells, on or adjacent to existing facilities, rather than the acquisition and development of large greenfield landfill sites for new landfill with a lengthy lifespan.