Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 183: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will require uniformity from local authorities regarding construction and demolition waste where currently some authorities require a permit to move construction and demolition waste while other authorities do not; if his attention has been drawn to this problem; his views on whether it is unfair to allow this situation continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35095/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Having regard to the definition of waste in Council Directive 2006/12/EC on waste (the framework waste Directive), section 4 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 defines waste as any substance or object belonging to a category of waste specified in the First Schedule of the Act or for the time being included in the European Waste Catalogue "which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard...".

Construction and demolition material would be regarded as a waste if the holder discards or intends or is required to discard it, e.g. in the context of construction or development activity. In such circumstances waste collectors will need a waste permit under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended. However, there are circumstances where the material might not be considered a waste, having regard to this definition.

The Office of Environmental Enforcement issued guidance - Aspects of Construction and Demolition Waste Regulation - in December 2008, which provides guidance on the legal framework covering the recovery or disposal of construction and demolition wastes in Ireland. It is directed at regulators and those undertaking site activities such as site owners, developers and C&D companies. It provides guidance on determining whether a material arising from a C&D activity is waste or not, the type of authorisation that applies and the classification of this material.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 184: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to require local authorities to provide facilities for construction and demolition waste; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities do not provide such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35096/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

While the provision of waste facilities to meet the objectives of the relevant statutory waste management plan is primarily a matter for the local authorities, recycling, recovery or disposal of construction and demolition waste in accordance with statutory requirements is specifically the responsibility of the producer.

I am satisfied that Ireland has an adequate network of fully licensed or permitted recovery/disposal sites which meet our current recovery or disposal needs. In total there are approximately 51 EPA licensed landfill and soil recovery facilities. The majority of the EPA facilities are capable of accepting C&D waste. In addition, there are approximately 1,800 waste facilities permitted by the local authorities that are capable of taking the C&D material.