Vol. 534 No. 2
9 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many EU member states are moving away from incineration as a waste management method; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10248/01]
I am not aware of a basis for the suggestion that many EU member states are moving away from waste incineration, or of what such a move might entail. It is my understanding that in the period 1997-00, the number and capacity of waste to energy facilities in the EU has increased, with new facilities built or under construction in seven member states.
This is consistent with the European Commission's projections in the context of its 1998 proposal for a Council directive on the incineration of waste. The Commission expected that the quantities of waste incinerated in the Community would increase due to growth in waste generation, the need to divert waste from landfill and projected increases in generation of sewage sludges due to the implementation of the urban waste water directive.
