Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 99: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's policy in relation to the reduction of clinical waste; the changes he intends to make; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11046/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

National policy in regard to the management of hazardous waste, including hazardous clinical waste, is set out in the EPA national hazardous waste management plan which covers the period 2001-2006. The plan addresses the prevention and minimisation of hazardous waste, the recovery of hazardous waste, the collection and movement of hazardous waste and the disposal of such hazardous waste as cannot be prevented or recovered.

Earlier last year, my predecessor launched an ambitious national waste prevention programme aimed at delivering significant improvements in waste prevention and minimisation across all waste streams. This programme is being led by a core prevention team within the agency which will have the task of developing the programme in consultation with other stakeholders. A national waste prevention committee was established to monitor the development of the programme and this committee has also taken over the co-ordination of actions to implement the national hazardous waste management plan.