Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I ended my earlier contribution by anticipating that the debate would be informative and beneficial, which it has proved to be. The contributions from Senators were knowledgeable and constructive and demonstrated an understanding of the importance of waste management and the challenges our society faces. All societies generate waste but one of the hallmarks of a sustainable society is its ability to deal with waste in a manner which does not pose a risk to human health or the environment.

I have sympathy for Senators who expressed concerns about incineration. Unfortunately, some seek to misrepresent our approach to what is an energy recovery technology. Like Senators, I acknowledge it is no coincidence that those countries on mainland Europe which are rightly regarded as leaders in environmental commitment and performance, such as Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, rely to a significant degree on thermal treatment while also achieving an exceptional level of recycling. We cannot wish our waste away but we can achieve best practice in terms of recycling and we are well on our way to doing so. However, for the foreseeable future, we will have significant quantities of waste which will either be landfilled or thermally treated. I have no doubt which is the best option; it is not to pass the bulk of it on to future generations. We generate waste and it is up to us to deal with it. Those who speak of a zero waste option are simply not living in the real world. I would say to Senator O'Toole that, of course, incinerators must meet strict EU standards.

I agree wholeheartedly with those who commended the public's effort on recycling. What has been achieved to date has been remarkable. A visit to a recycling centre is now becoming part of the social fabric, and so it should be. We all know we need to further expand the number of such facilities and Senators can be assured that my Department will continue to grant aid local authorities to ensure more facilities are provided.

Senator O'Toole spoke about pay by weight and the fact it applies throughout the country. I agree with the Senator that this is how charges should be levied. I also agree on the issue of segregated collection. Over 0.5 million homes now have a green bin. Brown bin services have been introduced in Galway and Waterford and they will be rolled out throughout the country in the coming years leading to a dramatic increase in the recovery of biodegradable waste.

As regards composting and organic waste recovery, in 2004 we generated almost 2 million tonnes of biodegradable waste. We recovered, including through composting, 33% of material up from 11% in 1995. We accept we still face a major challenge in this area. The new national strategy on biodegradable waste will ensure further rapid progress in this area.

I refer to public information. Senator Ormonde mentioned the spring clean campaign and the green schools initiative. The Race Against Waste campaign also provides magnificent information implementation packages. This is probably the leading country in Europe in terms of the green schools competition in which 55% of all schools are involved. We firmly believe we can take a step in the right direction through young people in our schools who are highly motivated. My Department will ensure we continue the momentum which has started. Local authorities are now employing environmental awareness officers.

Uncontrolled backyard burning of refuse, which is a serious issue, was the source of 73% of dioxin emissions in Ireland in 2004. Neighbours engaging in backyard burning are not looking after the health of the immediate community. The above statistic is from the Race Against Waste fact sheet. Therefore, the need for stringent enforcement by local authorities is clear.

The aim of the strategy in respect of composting is that we want to ensure 33% of biodegradable waste is composting by 2016 and we want home composting to reach 16%. These are serious targets.

I wish to take issue with Senator Bannon on farm waste plastics. We have regulations in place under which 55%, or 8,500 tonnes, of plastic waste was collected in 2004. This increased to 12,500 tonnes in 2005. Improved arrangements are in place and we will continue to make improvements. The average cost to a farmer will be in the order of €50 per lift. We will continue to provide designated facilities to deal with the backlog.

Senator Bannon's figures for recycling are incorrect. The figure was approximately 34% in 2004 and this will increase for 2005. Producer responsibility initiatives are an important contribution to this issue. The Minister is in discussions with newsprint producers about the amount of paper they produce.

In response to Senator Ulick Burke, I cannot comment on access to particular facilities without knowing all the circumstances. We should, however, distinguish between landfills and recycling facilities. Landfill sites can be dangerous places, whereas recycling facilities are designed for safe public access. There is a significant difference. My Department has provided some €90 million for such facilities since 2002 and will continue to do so.

I agree fully with Senator Phelan about illegal dumping. It was to combat this type of activity that the Office of Environmental Enforcement was established. It has been in operation for a little over a year and has made significant progress. It is working with the local authorities and the Garda to stamp out illegal activity, which there is reason to believe has significantly reduced. There is a growing network of recycling facilities around the country. Many types of waste are collected free of charge. Therefore, there is no excuse for illegal dumping.

We do not accept that there are issues surrounding the regulation of the waste sector, including the determination of charges. The Minister will bring a proposal to Government on future regulation of the sector. He is considering setting public service obligations as a priority.