merrion street

“The Government’s intention is to ensure the development of an efficient, effective and diverse waste management sector”.  So said Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today (14 April) when he announced a range of measures in relation to waste policy.  .

Speaking at the opening of the Second Stage debate on the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 in the Dáil, the Minister outlined the principles (see Annex) which will inform the development of the Government’s waste policy to be finalised by the end of the year.  Minister Hogan said the policy would be aimed at delivering a positive environmental outcome and maximising the collective wellbeing through ensuring efficient, effective and progressive waste services for households and businesses.

In addition to the greater clarity and certainty provided to the waste sector by the guiding principles he outlined to the Dáil, the Minister emphasised that there was a clear imperative to achieve further very significant diversion of waste from landfill in the short term and that he was introducing a number of measures to support this.  Among these are phased increases in the landfill levy in the period to mid-2013 and early completion of analysis in relation to the introduction of segregated household food waste collection services.

As clearly indicated in the Programme for Government, the internationally recognised waste hierarchy is the bedrock on which our waste policy must sit.  In an early move to underpin this, I have recently signed Regulations to complete Ireland’s transposition of the Waste Framework Directive, giving statutory recognition to the hierarchy in Irish law.

Right now, disposal – which is the most environmentally unsound option for dealing with our waste – is the cheapest.  That situation is simply not sustainable.  I am therefore announcing today that the landfill levy will rise from €30 per tonne to €50 per tonne from 1 September 2011, €65 per tonne from July 2012 and €75 per tonne from July 2013.  By announcing these rates today, I am providing the waste sector with the certainty that it needs to prepare for the changes that these increases will bring.

In order to give further certainty and underpin the waste management modernisation process, the Minister also announced that; he will be indicating his position in relation to the provisions in the Bill which would provide for the introduction of a levy on incineration, when the Bill reaches Committee Stage in the near future; a Regulatory Impact Assessment on regulations to divert household food waste from landfill through the use of brown bins will be completed shortly; and two further Programme for Government commitments are being actioned in the short term with the commencement of a Regulatory Impact Assessment on changing the structure of the household waste collection market and a review of existing producer responsibility schemes with a particular focus on packaging.

I look forward to engaging with the range of stakeholders as I work towards finalisation of a new waste policy by the end of this year,” said the Minister, indicating that the final product would be evidence-based and would be focused on delivering the best possible environmental performance and the best value for money.

The Government is determined to move forward with a waste policy which is:

• Designed to minimise the volumes of waste generated and to extract the maximum value from that waste which arises;
• Aimed at delivering a positive environmental outcome and maximising the collective wellbeing through ensuring efficient, effective and progressive waste services for consumers and businesses;
• Calibrated both to the immediate demands Ireland faces and to the long-term challenges;
• Founded on a firm, evidence-based understanding of the many scientific, economic and social issues which are inherent elements of the waste policy discourse;
• Consistent with the cornerstones of National and European policy, including the waste hierarchy, the principle that the polluter pays, sustainable materials management and the urgent imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
• In keeping with the complementary roles which the private and public sectors can play;
• Designed to facilitate necessary investment in infrastructure, within an appropriately regulated  waste market framework; and,
• Sufficiently flexible to respond to emerging developments in relation to technology, operational practice and wider thinking in the waste management policy realm.