Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

In County Mayo recently a waste collection operator who was segregating waste applied to extend and modernise his premises. Permission was granted by Mayo County Council but was subsequently refused by An Bord Pleanála on the grounds that the plant was four and a half miles from Castlebar. That is the ludicrous position in which this man found himself. The plant is located in a rural area only four and a half miles from the town. An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission, first, because it was not part of the Connacht waste management programme, yet the man concerned has been collecting waste for 20 years throughout the town and other towns also. In fact, he was collecting waste long before the local authority started doing so. The second reason for the refusal was that the plant was located in a rural rather than a built-up area. Obviously, An Bord Pleanála wants such facilities to be provided where waste is generated, namely, in towns, not rural areas.

I remain concerned about the question of weightings. The man concerned provided a service which involved segregating waste and bringing part of it to the landfill site, yet An Bord Pleanála refused him permission to expand his premises. As a result, he is in a terrible state. The less waste that goes to landfill the more it will cost per tonne because it will be done on a tonnage basis. While there is no doubt that some managers will push up the price per tonne, I hope it will be weighted in terms of recycling rather than incineration, if possible. It would be ridiculous to have it weighted in a situation where waste could go to a recycling facility or for incineration. I accept the Minister spoke about the weightings but it should be spelled out in the Bill. Every Senator is well aware that the cost per tonne at landfill sites will increase dramatically, especially if there is a reduction in tonnage. If the weightings were in favour of waste going to recycling rather than incineration—