Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his policy and future policy objectives in the programme for Government regarding the preferred methods of reducing, recycling and disposing of waste including new technologies such as MBT; the timeframe for any change in existing policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24179/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government clearly sets out the approach to waste management that will be reflected in national policy in the years ahead. 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 our waste. This, coupled with an increasing emphasis on technologies for the mechanical and biological treatment of waste, will significantly reduce potential reliance on landfill and incineration. This commitment to the waste hierarchy has added significance in the context of the requirements of the EU Landfill Directive to divert waste from landfill. Meeting this obligation will entail doubling the existing level of diversion from landfill by 2010 and further increases in diversion in subsequent years.

To assist the process of ensuring that our waste management system can act in support of these objectives my Department has initiated the major review of waste management policy foreseen in the Government's policy programme and this will get underway shortly. This will be designed to support the necessary legal, institutional and policy framework to achieve international best practice in the management of our waste. The terms of reference require that the review be concluded as soon as possible and no later than within one year.