Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 849: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the establishment of waste paper and waste cardboard recycling operations with a view to energy recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11099/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am fully committed to achieving the highest possible levels of recycling for paper, cardboard and other materials, and to the continuing development of a national network of waste recycling facilities. Since 2002, over €100 million has been allocated by my Department to local authorities to assist in the capital costs of establishing and developing such facilities.

The Government's policy statement, Preventing and Recycling Waste — Delivering Change, identified a lack of sustainable and economically attractive markets and outlets for recyclable materials as one of the main barriers to an improved and sustainable national recycling performance. The significant cost and effort associated with the segregation, collection, sorting, pre-treatment and reprocessing of recyclable materials demands that markets be developed to realise the full resource value of all recyclable materials that are reclaimed. To address these issues I am providing funding of €13 million to implement the recommendations set out in the Market Development Programme for Waste Resources 2007.

The Programme for Government signalled the further development of waste and resource policy in the direction of sustainability and, in particular, to move away from mass burn incineration towards alternative technologies. Arising from a commitment in the Programme, a major international review of waste management strategy is now underway. This will inform the Government's approach to waste prevention and minimisation and to diversion of waste from landfill.

My view generally is that undue emphasis on incineration as the cornerstone of waste management policy is detrimental to the development of alternative solutions. The current review of waste policy 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.