Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps being taken to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills in view of the recent ESRI report that found that 80% of household waste is going to landfills, that there is a discrepancy between the stated policy of the Government and the policies in place regarding landfill and that European Union targets on reducing waste going to landfills will be missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20793/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps, following a report by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2008 that found that the volume of waste going to landfill is increasing and that Ireland is in significant danger of missing its European Union targets for diverting recyclable waste from landfill, he is taking to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20794/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 107 together.

Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste sets challenging targets for the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill. In the case of Ireland, the diversion rates required are projected to equate to 59% for 2010, 73% by 2013 and 80% by 2016 for this particular waste stream. The recent National Waste Report 2006 published in January 2008 by the EPA presents the scale of the challenge in sharp focus: while the recovery rate for this waste stream increased to 38% from 35% in 2005, the quantity of this waste going to landfill rose by 15%.

A National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste, published in 2006, sets out a wide range of integrated measures, designed in accordance with the waste hierarchy, to support biodegradable municipal waste minimisation and diversion from landfill. The Programme for Government is clearly committed to the effective implementation of this Strategy.

My Department is supporting the roll-out by local authorities of segregated 'brown bin' collections for food and garden waste; this will make a significant contribution to diversion of household waste from landfill as we have already seen in places like Galway and Waterford. In addition, it has become clear that landfill gate fees have fallen thereby making landfill more attractive as a waste disposal option. I have, therefore, recently announced my intention to increase the landfill levy to encourage recycling and will shortly be making an Order and associated Regulations to give effect to the proposed increase.

In line with the commitment given in the Programme, a major review of waste policy is currently being initiated. The review will examine the potential contribution that mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) and other technologies can deliver towards our landfill diversion targets, particularly in the context of recovering the biodegradable fraction in residual waste arising from domestic households. I have already placed on the record my position that an over reliance on incineration is not the answer for residual waste treatment.