Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the reports referred to in the Dáil indicating that four incinerators was the number mentioned in a number of reports, are reports compiled on behalf of or for his Department; his views on these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29013/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In accordance with the provisions of waste management legislation, decisions in respect of the number of municipal waste incinerators which may be developed are the responsibility of local authorities, in the context of the regional waste management plans for which they have statutory responsibility, and of commercial enterprises in relation to private sector facilities.

Such projects are not formally reported on by my Department. However, it has been widely reported that a number of thermal treatment projects are being advanced. These include a municipal waste incinerator at Carranstown, Co. Meath and a hazardous waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, in respect of which the promoter has indicated that approval for the treatment of municipal waste at the location may be sought in the future, and a facility being promoted by Dublin City Council, on behalf of the Dublin local authorities, currently before An Bord Pleanála and the Environmental Protection Agency respectively. The other waste management regions identify, in their respective waste management plans, various approaches to the use of thermal treatment in waste management and a number of other private sector projects have been mooted. Such projects are at varying stages of development and would in all cases be subject to securing the necessary regulatory approvals.

The Government's policy in regard to waste management is clearly set out in the Programme for Government. It is firmly grounded in a continuing commitment to the waste hierarchy with a renewed drive towards the achievement of international best practice in the reduction, re-use and recycling of waste. There is a commitment to meeting our national objectives and EU obligations through an increasing emphasis on technologies for the mechanical and biological treatment of a growing volume of municipal waste. This will significantly reduce the future need for incineration capacity.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the basis on which he believes that with a developed MBT system the quantity of residual waste requiring disposal other than landfill would be reduced to 400,000 tonnes by 2016; the figures and reports on which he has made that calculation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29014/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Data available to my Department from the National Waste Report produced annually by the EPA were used to extrapolate that by 2016, and having met EU landfill diversion targets, the volume of waste requiring further treatment could be reduced to some 400,000 tonnes if sufficient capacity for the mechanical and biological treatment of waste can be developed in that timeframe.

This level of ambition reflects Government policy in regard to waste management as set out in the Programme for Government. It is firmly grounded in a continuing commitment to the waste hierarchy with a renewed drive towards the achievement of international best practice in the reduction, re-use and recycling of waste. There is a commitment to meeting our national objectives and EU obligations through an increasing emphasis on technologies for the mechanical and biological treatment of a growing volume of municipal waste. This will significantly reduce the future need for incineration and landfill capacity. As provided for in the Government Programme my Department is initiating a major international review of waste management policy which will in part focus on how best to advance the use of the full range of technologies available for waste management.