Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 536: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will arrange for a national scheme to be put in place to adequately deal with farm waste materials other than plastic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29505/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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A successful producer responsibility initiative has been in operation since mid 1997 in relation to farm film silage bale wrap. My Department has been working with industry with a view to replicating this success for other waste materials arising on farms. These discussions are ongoing.

The provision of environmentally sound recovery outlets for these materials, such as fertiliser bags and used chemical containers, is being addressed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the context of the draft second National Hazardous Waste Management Plan. The Plan has been published in draft form by the Agency for public consultation which affords all stakeholders an opportunity to make observations as to its contents. The deadlines for submissions to the EPA on the contents of the draft Plan, which is published on the Agency's website at www.epa.ie, is 31 January 2008.