Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a decision has been made as to the future role for recycling, incineration and landfill in respect of waste management; if a review of such requirements has been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10386/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his departmental review of waste management has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10387/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to undertake a review of waste management policy. Consultants have been engaged to undertake a study to underpin this policy review. The study will address how better to implement waste prevention and minimisation in the particular context of the emergence of new technologies for waste management, particularly those for the mechanical and biological treatment of waste which can reduce the need for both incineration and landfill. The review may well indicate a continuing role for incineration in our future waste management strategy but I do not envisage it being on anything like the scale that was previously envisaged.

I anticipate that the study will be completed by mid-2009 and published shortly thereafter. In the context of its recommendations I will bring necessary policy and legislative proposals to Government.