Dáil debates

Wednesday, 8 November 2006

1:00 pm

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will comment on the excess capacity of landfill available in the State which may make it cheaper now to dump rather than recycle waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36601/06]

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will initiate a review of the eight regional development plans to examine the waste management facilities and proposals in each plan, following his assertion that the need for incineration has been over-estimated; and if he will instruct persons carrying out such reviews to consider alternatives to municipal incineration. [36521/06]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the recent report of the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants, entitled Excess Landfill Capacity, and its impact on the implementation on Irish waste policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36600/06]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 13 and 119 together.

Irish waste management policy is based on the internationally recognised integrated approach to waste management, the main emphasis of which is on waste prevention, reuse and recycling. Landfill is the least preferable option from an environmental perspective. It is planned to decrease its contribution over time as recycling levels increase and alternative infrastructure becomes available. Significant landfill capacity is required in the short term until alternative treatment is available for non-recyclable material. Some landfill capacity will be needed for residual waste in the longer term. Various policy instruments are available to ensure that the role of landfill is consistent with national waste policy, including the landfill levy being applied. Other instruments can be developed if required.

The diversion of waste from landfill sites will be driven by the implementation of the national biowaste strategy, which I published recently. The strategy sets out a comprehensive approach to achieving the target of increasing the level of diversion from 630,000 tonnes of biowaste in 2004 to 1.8 million tonnes by 2016. The strategy was finalised following a thorough and detailed process of consultation with all the stakeholders. I am confident that this ambitious target will be met as successfully as we have met the target for recycling. According to the latest data, the overall rate of recycling in 2004 was almost 34%, compared to 9% in 1998. The national target, to be achieved by 2013, is 35%. We have already passed the 2013 target. The position is even more dramatic in respect of packaging waste. The rate of recycling of such waste was 56% in 2004. We have already met the key target of 50% by 2005, which was set by the European Union. These achievements have been supported since 2002 by the provision to local authorities of approximately €100 million in grant assistance in respect of recycling facilities.

The planning authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency are responsible for determining the number and scale of individual facilities, having regard to the relevant regional waste management plan and national policy. I have issued a policy direction to facilitate a more rational use of waste management facilities. The direction clarifies for planning authorities and the EPA the national policy position on inter-regional movements of waste. As Members are aware, one used to be allowed to export waste from Kildare to Germany, but not from Kildare to an adjoining county, which was ridiculous.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Some waste was moved from Dublin to Kildare.

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. I have initiated a process of public consultation on the future economic regulation of the waste management sector. That process has attracted over 50 submissions, including a submission from the industry body that was mentioned in one of the questions. The wide-ranging remit of the process of public consultation has been approved by the Government. The process will have regard to policy on the direction of waste to particular facilities, for example. I intend to finalise further policy proposals after I have considered the views of the various stakeholders.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government concluded its national overview of waste management plans in July 2004. The overview identified that good progress was being made in the implementation of the regional plans. The plans have subsequently been reviewed by the local authorities on the basis of significant public consultation. I am satisfied that the regional waste management plans properly reflect the needs of individual regions and the range of available technologies. If Deputies want to ask supplementary questions about the tonnage capacity in various areas, on foot of the problems which arose in that regard in the Dublin area, I will be happy to take them.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the increase in the rates of recycling. Question No. 10 was tabled after some recycling companies stated in the media that they could not compete with landfill facilities. It has been suggested that people are choosing to dump rather than recycle because the cost to such companies of recycling waste products is greater than the cost of dumping those products. The companies in question have asked for an adjustment to be made. I appreciate that the Minister has made a comprehensive statement in this regard. I do not have a copy of what he said, but I will read it later. The key issue for the recycling companies is the need for the Minister to use every instrument available to him to ensure that it is cheaper to recycle than to dump. If the Minister has to subsidise that, he should do so. Recycling is working better in some areas than in others, as the Minister pointed out. The regional waste management plans will not work unless we ensure that it is economic to recycle. We need to find markets for recycled goods in Ireland and overseas. I understand that a fund of approximately €1 million has been put in place to support recycling. I am not sure what is the exact number.

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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We have made €100 million available since 2002.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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We need to put in place more measures of that nature. If we do not ensure that recycling is economic, for example by subsidising it to make it economic, we will defeat the purpose of it.

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is correct. I am familiar with the industry. I would like to strike a note of caution. Deputies are familiar with Adam Smith's comment that when two businessmen get together, they sometimes conspire against the public interest. A degree of special pleading is taking place, particularly on the part of the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants. The basic argument being made is that if a certain amount of landfill tonnage capacity is available, it can be uneconomical to move into the waste-to-energy industry. In 2001, less than four years of landfill capacity remained in Dublin, which was dangerous. Less than five years of capacity is available in Dublin at present, which means that we are not exactly out of the woods. The level of capacity that is generally available nationally will last for approximately eight years. That is probably a prudent approach, given that any other approach will need a long lead-in time.

The Deputy's point about making it easier for people to recycle was well made. One of the most dramatic things to happen here in that regard was the increase in the roll-out of household segregation facilities. Such an approach to recycling is becoming the norm, rather than the exception, and is producing critical tonnages. The decision I made last year on waste electrical and electronic equipment led to the development of three recycling facilities and the creation of over 300 jobs. Bring banks and civic amenity centres are part and parcel of this process. The 80th civic amenity centre in this country is about to be opened. I agree with Deputy O'Dowd that such facilities have to be made available. The V & W facility in Dundalk, for example, is marvellous, amazing and astonishing. People meet there because it is seen as a place of social gathering.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It is the same in Drogheda.

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Such facilities make it much easier for people to recycle. A general review of the whole area of waste regulation is under way, as I have said. The self-serving arguments which are being made by some interests within the industry have to be balanced with the public good.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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There is a cost issue too.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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I welcome the recycling figures, which are impressive and good. There is scope to do better in the future. If we have an over-capacity of landfill facilities and a planned over-capacity of incineration facilities, does the Minister agree that it will be difficult to convince anybody to go down the expensive route of recycling, rather than to put waste materials in landfills or to give such materials to the operators of incinerators, whose fires are hungry and require regular feeding? There will be an incentive to bring waste products to incinerators. According to the question tabled by my colleague, Deputy Pattison, the Minister asserted recently that "the need for incineration has been over-estimated". Will the Minister comment on that? Is he suggesting that he will instruct the people who are carrying out the reviews to propose alternatives to municipal incineration? Was that his intention when he made the comments to which I referred? Does he believe that too many incinerators have been provided for in the regional development plans? Does he agree that recycling could be more expensive than landfill and incineration facilities if the full cost is charged for such facilities? As well as making it easier, we must also make it cheaper for people to recycle.

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the central thesis of the Deputy's question, which is that we must get the balance right. We had 76 local authority landfills in Ireland as recently as 1998, but that is down to 34 today. We are not oversupplied with landfill. There is a five-year supply in Dublin, but if one looks at the lead time, that is very tight. The situation in the rest of the country is somewhat better. The public statements from a particular sector have come primarily from an individual company that has a vested interest in depressing landfill in order to make it relatively more attractive to move into incineration. My job is to make sure that the balance is there and that we have a full range of facilities. An over-reliance on one or the other would not be healthy.

We certainly do not need an incinerator in each of the ten regions. We need to get the balance right and this will be the key to making the whole policy successful.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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When can we expect to see the incinerators that the Minister sees as desirable?

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I do not wish to comment on anything that is in the planning process, but an extraordinary situation occurred where a company that had applied for planning permission and applied for an extension then suggested that it may not go ahead with the construction. I understand that the company has clarified the position recently. We must accept that we have to handle our own waste, including our own hazardous waste and especially that coming from the pharmaceutical industry.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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That would be in Cork.

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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There is planning permission down there for it. It makes sense that we have it because much of our key industry could be held hostage if we do not have the capacity. It is about getting the balance right. Where we have shown leadership, there has been a remarkable response, such as with the electronic waste. I could not have envisaged a situation 12 months ago in which Ireland would have moved from zero to virtual world leadership. We now have three of the best recycling facilities anywhere in Europe. Commissioner Dimas was here to look at one of the facilities and he could not believe it. Frankly, I could not believe it either. There are 300 people employed in that industry now. Waste should not be regarded as a problem, but as a potential resource.