Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 October 2022
168. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all his Department’s buildings have recycling arrangements in place; if not, the steps that are being taken to ensure that the recycling of workplace waste is facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49551/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed improving its Environmental Management systems. This is evidenced by my Department achieving ISO 14001 accreditation for our Energy Management Systems.
My Department takes pride in continuing to minimise waste in Departmental sites through the implementation of programmes for waste prevention and reduction, and for the collection, segregation, re-use, recycling, storage and safe disposal of all waste arising in Departmental sites, including litter, toner cartridges, used batteries, etc.
To further promote good environmental practices in the Department’s buildings, paper waste bins have been removed from offices and new units installed providing a centralised waste disposal facility, in line with best practice.
Each unit has receptacles for general waste, dry mixed recyclable and food waste placed strategically around the Department's office locations.
These changes have delivered numerous benefits:
- contributed further to improving our environmental systems;
- achieved ISO accreditation in Environment Management Systems;
- reduced the amount of generated waste;
- increased the amount of materials recycled and reused.
My Department also facilitates staff to recycle household Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) via the WEEE Ireland compliance scheme.
Through my Department's consistent engagement with waste disposal contractors with a view to minimising the amount of Department waste sent to landfill, my Department has achieved an average of 90% of waste being either recovered or recycled over the course of the year in 2021.
