Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:13 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his proposals for the recycling of waste. [5001/01]
Written Answers. - Waste Management.
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 recovery and recycling targets over a 15 year period. These include diversion of 50% of overall household waste away from landfill, a minimum 65% reduction in biodegradable waste consigned to landfill, the development of composting and other feasible biological treatment facilities capable of treating up to 300,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste per annum, and recycling of 35% of municipal waste.
Having regard to these targets, current and proposed local and regional waste management plans incorporate proposals for household segregation and separate collection of organic waste and dry recyclables in urban areas, an extended network of bring facilities in rural areas, typically with a target density of one facility per 500 population, an increased network of civic amenity sites and waste transfer stations, a range of centralised composting and other biological treatment facilities, and support for home composting of food and garden waste, especially in rural areas.
It is imperative that local authorities complete the current strategic planning process and proceed with the delivery of the improved waste services and infrastructure that are proposed. The National Development Plan 2000-2006 anticipates capital investment of at least £650 million in the development of waste management infrastructure. Of this, some £100 million in Exchequer or EU funding will be provided to support the development of requisite waste recycling and recovery infrastructure over the life of the plan.
A segregated household collection scheme for dry recyclables is currently being provided to some 70,000 households in the Dublin region and will progressively be extended with a view, ultimately, to providing segregated collection services for dry and organic wastes in respect of 80% of households in the region. The proposed regional waste plans provide for this kind of service in all large urban areas around the country, and I expect that local authorities in other regions will move rapidly to provide, or require the pro vision of, equivalent segregated collection and recovery services within their functional areas. I understand that Repak Limited, which was established to promote, co-ordinate and finance the collection and recovery of packaging waste, is prepared to make funding available to assist local authorities in the initiation and development of such services.
In addition, various producer responsibility initiatives are under way or being developed. Repak Ltd. recently initiated a new scheme to incentivise the collection and recycling of additional amounts of packaging waste by waste contractors throughout the country. Further industry-led initiatives are being pursued at this time in relation to construction and demolition waste, end of life vehicles, tyres and electrical and electronic waste.
A policy statement on waste prevention and recovery will shortly be published. This will address in detail the factors and practical considerations which are relevant to the achievement of policy objectives and targets in this area, and will outline the scope of measures which will be undertaken in support of a better national recycling performance. These measures will encompass proposals in relation to waste prevention and minimisation, market development for recyclables, and the provision of further reprocessing capacity for recyclable materials.