Written answers

Thursday, 15 February 2018

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Hazardous Waste Sites

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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248. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the site selection process that followed plans (details supplied); the locations deemed to be optimum; the risk assessments that were carried out for transportation of hazardous waste within the jurisdiction; the locations progressed for the provision of a hazardous waste facility; the reason they did not proceed; if the three waste regions are required to provide for this waste; if not , the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8020/18]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (NHWMP) 2014-2020 is prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in accordance with Section 26 of the Waste Management Act 1996 and sets out the priority actions that may be undertaken within the lifetime of the Plan in relation to: the prevention of hazardous waste; improved collection rates for certain categories of hazardous waste; steps that are required to improve Ireland’s self-sufficiency in hazardous waste management and the continued identification and regulation of legacy issues.

It should be noted that there has been no site selection process for the development of a hazardous waste landfill facility undertaken by the EPA or the Waste Management Planning Lead Authorities. The hazardous waste industry in Ireland is owned and operated by the private sector and no public authorities are involved in the commercial collection of hazardous waste, the provision of storage facilities or the treatment of hazardous waste. The only exception is the provision of civic amenity sites by local authorities for the deposit of small quantities of household hazardous waste.

The three Regional Waste Management Plans note the need identified by the EPA in the NHWMP for up to 277,000 tonnes of disposal capacity for hazardous waste materials over the period 2014-2020. The Regional Waste Management Plans highlight that the EPA recognises the value of developing existing landfill sites, including those which are currently closed or un-commenced, for the development of certain hazardous wastes.Accordingly the Regional Waste Management Plans, inter alia, support the development of disposal capacity for the treatment of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes at existing landfill facilities, subject to the appropriate statutory approvals being granted in line with the appropriate environmental criteria. The plans do not contain measures requiring the Regions to provide for this waste.

Ireland currently has no dedicated hazardous waste landfill disposal facility and there is no facility for the treatment of thermal residue in the State. While landfill is the least favoured option on the waste hierarchy, it is recognised that relying on the current export model to address this need poses risks for long term availability of outlets. Any proposals for hazardous waste management infrastructure would be expected to have regard to the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan and describe how the overarching objectives of the plan would be met.

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