Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the waste management planing national coordination committee was established; who is the chairperson of this group; the membership of same; the number of meeting that have been held and the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action being taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48577/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011, which transposed the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) into Irish law, there is a requirement to evaluate existing waste management plans by 31 December 2012 and, consequent to such an evaluation, to revise plans as appropriate.

The Waste Framework Directive requires waste management plans to set out “an analysis of the current waste management situation in the geographical entity concerned, as well as the measures to be taken to improve environmentally sound preparing for re-use, recycling, recovery and disposal of waste and an evaluation of how the plan will support the implementation of the objectives and provisions of the Directive”. Under Regulation 8 of the transposing Regulations, which amends section 22 of the Waste Management Act 1996, all waste management plans must:

- Lay down measures to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of the generation and management of waste and by reducing overall impacts of resource use and improving the efficiency of such use;

- Be in accordance with the waste hierarchy set out in section 21A of the 1996 Act;

- Meet the protection of human health and the environment obligations set out in section 32(1) of the 1996 Act; and

- Meet the principles of self-sufficiency and proximity set out in section 37A of the 1996 Act.

The evaluation and subsequent revision of waste management plans will require Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and will also have regard to the requirements of Appropriate Assessment (AA) under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).

My Department established a National Coordination Committee in October 2011 as an appropriate support mechanism for the evaluation process, including in relation to scoping SEA and AA requirements, so as to provide a framework or template to guide the evaluation and, where appropriate, revision of waste management plans.  Seven meetings of the Committee have been held to date and a number of working documents have been produced including in relation to technical support, waste legislation and waste data.  The membership of the Committee, chaired by my Department (Mr. Eoin Deegan, Administrative Officer), comprises representatives of my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the ten waste management regions.