Written Answers. - Waste Management.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
101
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government
the degree to which waste management disposal is likely to depend on landfill and incineration; if his attention has been drawn to the urgent necessity to pursue alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16583/03]
Government waste management policy is based on the internationally recognised hierarchy of prevention or minimisation, significantly increased levels of recycling, energy recovery and utilisation of landfill as a last resort for the residual waste that cannot otherwise be recovered.
Local authorities were advised, in the policy statement, Changing our Ways, which was published in 1998, that achievement of national waste objectives requires,inter alia, a major reduction in reliance on landfill and the adoption 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 fully assess the various issues involved, with a view to identifying the nature, scale and mix waste of waste treatment facilities which, at a regional level, would maximise recovery of materials or energy and minimise environmental emissions at reasonable cost. Against this background, regional waste management plans were adopted which provide, inter alia, for waste minimisation, materials recycling, biological treatment of organic wastes, thermal treatment with energy recovery and landfill of residual wastes that cannot otherwise be recovered.
The policy statement, Preventing and Recycling Waste: Delivering Change, published in March 2002, complements the implementation of these plans. Its basic premise is that only waste material that cannot be prevented, re-used, recycled or otherwise treated should be landfilled. Accordingly, it outlines a range of measures to be undertaken in the interests of minimising waste generation and ensuring a sustained expansion in re-use and recycling performance. My Department's priorities on waste management are now heavily focused on implementation, that is, to ensure that the waste management plans are fully and speedily implemented; waste prevention efforts are intensified through a well resourced national waste prevention programme; our recycling efforts are significantly expanded; and producer responsibly initiatives are extended; with the overall objective of significantly reducing the volumes of waste going to landfill.
