Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the various forms of waste management are currently being used with particular reference to the maximum use of reduction, recycling, reuse, land fill or thermal disposal; the extent to which current practice is in accordance with international guidelines in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54555/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in July 2012, sets out the actions through which Ireland will make the further progress necessary to become a recycling society, with a clear focus on resource efficiency and the virtual elimination of landfilling of municipal waste.  The policy contains measures to ensure that prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery are favoured to the disposal of waste in accordance with the waste hierarchy as set out in the Waste Framework Directive. Measures already in place to encourage the development of alternatives to landfill include a landfill levy of €65 per tonne and regulations which require the diversion from landfill of food waste arising on specified premises. 

The EPA is the national repository for waste management statistics and the most recent available information in respect of waste management can be found in the 2010 National Waste Report available on the EPA’s website at . The 2010 Report notes that:

- Total Municipal Solid Waste disposed to landfill in 2010 declined 13% when compared to 2009 figures; and

- Ireland is still over-dependent on landfill for residual waste disposal (58% compared to an EU 27 average of 38%), however, the improving recycling rate achieved (38%) compares favourably with the EU 27 average of 40%.

I understand that the 2011 National Waste Report is to be published early in the New Year.