Written answers

Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Waste Management

Photo of Alan FarrellAlan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the efforts by his Department efforts to address rising rates of hazardous waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23294/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The most recent report on Hazardous Waste statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is for 2019 and is available at www.epa.ie. The Agency reported a figure of  580,977 tonnes of hazardous waste generated in 2019, which was up 54,580 tonnes on the 2018 figure.  65% of Ireland’s hazardous waste was exported for treatment in other European countries in 2019,  compared with 73% in 2018.  The Agency also noted that incinerator bottom ash from the Dublin Waste to Energy facility was re-classified as non-hazardous waste in 2020, following testing in the Netherlands. This will contribute to reduced figures In this category in 2020.

The EPA is currently revising the National  Hazardous Waste Management Plan for the 2021 to 2027 period. This revision will incorporate related proposals in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy and examine where additional national capacity is feasible.

Reducing the rates of hazardous waste treated will require reducing the  sources of such waste. Therefore, changes being introduced via the review of the Industrial Emissions Directive and the  new EU Chemical Strategy, which will lead to less hazardous waste produced, are particularly important.  The Agency also supports innovative projects aimed at reducing hazardous materials placed on the market via the Green Enterprise programme.

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