Michael McGrath
Ceist:1005. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the policy on the use of incineration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24981/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 12 June 2018
Ceisteanna (1005, 1006)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:1006. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider reinstating the incineration levy abolished in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24982/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1005 and 1006 together.
Government waste management policy is set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012.
European, national and regional waste management policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in Article 4 of the 2008 Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), whereby the prevention, pre-paring for reuse, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred options to the disposal or landfilling of waste.
Thermal recovery activities such as waste to energy, co-incineration (e.g. at cement kilns), pyrolysis and gasification, where the principle use of the waste is as a fuel to generate energy, sit on the 'other recovery' tier of the waste hierarchy and in line with European policy are preferred to the disposal or landfilling of waste.
In this regard, 21% of managed municipal waste (by weight) was sent to landfill in 2014 compared to 41% in 2012 and 92% in 1995. New waste management targets recently agreed by the European Council include that Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that by 2035 the amount of municipal waste landfilled is reduced to 10% or less of the total amount of municipal waste generated (by weight).
The continued implementation of European, national and regional waste management policy to manage waste in line with the waste hierarchy will help ensure that Ireland is well placed to meet this new target.
The potential introduction of economic instruments designed to improve environmental behaviour are being considered in the context of a review of the Environment Fund.
Question No. 1007 answered with Question No. 1004.