Vol. 548 No. 4
171 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the respective costs per tonne of methods of thermal treatment of refuse (details supplied); the advantages and disadvantages of each system; and his view on whether these methods should be introduced here. [5138/02]
Local authorities were advised in my waste policy statement, Changing Our Ways, that achievement of national waste objectives requires, inter alia, a major reduction in reliance on landfill in favour of an integrated waste management approach which utilises a range of treatment options to deliver ambitious recycling and recovery targets. Authorities were asked to identify and assess fully the various issues involved with a view to identifying the nature, scale and mix of facilities which at a regional level appear to offer the best balance at reasonable cost between maximised recovery of materials or energy and minimised environmental emissions. It a matter for the local authorities to take such steps as are appropriate and necessary to attain the objectives of their plans.
A feasibility study examining the thermal treatment options for waste in the mid-west and north east was carried out on behalf of the relevant local authorities in these regions in January 1999. This study provided a technical assessment of thermal treatment technologies, such as incineration, gasification and pyrolysis, including the advantages and disadvantages of each technology, as well as estimated construction costs and gate fees. I am arranging to have details of this study forwarded to the Deputy.
172 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans for the progressive introduction and increase of landfill levies. [5139/02]
In the consultation paper issued by my Department on the landfill levy it was proposed that the levy would be introduced at an initial flat rate of €15 per tonne with annual increases thereafter of €5 per tonne. Following the formal consultation process in late 2001, my Department has received almost 40 submissions from a range of interested parties with regard to the proposed levy. These are under consideration and are informing the preparation of regulations to give early effect to the levy.
The principal purpose of the levy is not to generate revenue but, by achieving a positive price differential between the costs of landfilling and the costs of "high-in-hierarchy" waste options, to encourage the diversion of waste away from landfill towards recycling and biological treatment options.
173 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in view of the cyclical nature of the market for the products of recycling, he will introduce a countercyclical subsidy to apply only in periods of low prices to ensure recycling businesses can develop. [5140/02]
In accordance with the principle of producer responsibility, it is appropriate that waste generators should pay directly the full costs of waste collection, treatment and disposal. In support of this approach, producer responsibility initiatives already operate in Ireland in the areas of packaging waste and farm plastics waste, that is, Repak in the case of packaging waste and Irish Farm Films Producers Group in the case of farm plastics. In these cases producers are required to take steps to recover waste or to contribute to and participate in compliance schemes set up to recover the waste in question. These schemes in turn provide variable subsidies, having regard to material market values and fluctuations, for the collection and recovery of materials for recycling, which provides economic support for the recycling sector.
