Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which waste management is being utilised in the context of carbon reduction and waste to heat combinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10781/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Ireland, the management and treatment of waste is carried out in accordance with national and European legislation, and in line with policy frameworks such as the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, 2020. These policies and laws set out a hierarchy for the management and treatment of waste generated within the country. The preferred treatment option for residual municipal waste is management via high efficiency thermal treatment, which includes energy production in line with national and European policies.
In Ireland, there are currently two dedicated recovery facilities which are classified as high efficiency thermal treatment or Energy from Waste facilities; one operated by Covanta in Dublin and the other by Indaver in County Meath. Together these plants are licensed to treat 835,000 tonnes of non-hazardous municipal waste for energy recovery. The two facilities currently produce electricity, which is exported to the national grid. The Energy from Waste facility located in Dublin is also designed and capable of operating as a high efficiency Combined Heat and Power Facility, which can utilise some of the heat produced at the facility as a heat source for a district heating network. Dublin City Council is currently in the process of developing a district heating network to utilise this heat for space and hot water within the city displacing alternative higher carbon generators. In addition, three cement kilns are currently licensed to accept solid recovered fuel (SRF) derived from waste for co-incineration at their plants. In 2021, these cement kilns processed in excess of 237,000 tonnes of SRF, which replaced fossil fuels such as gas.
