Ireland – recycling to double under proposed Dublin waste plan

The Draft Dublin Waste Management Plan 2005-2010 will double the recycling infrastructure in the region. It continues the policy of achieving 59% recycling, with landfill reducing to 16% and the remaining 25% of waste being incinerated, generating energy for electricity and potentially district heating.



Already, 26% recycling for household and commercial and industrial waste has been achieved up to end 2003; four times more than in 1997 and it continues to rise. The four Dublin local authorities are spending over ·30million annually on new recycling centres, bring banks and household green bins for dry recyclables to raise the recycling rate. A further ·300 million of capital investment will be required to deliver the infrastructure needed under the Waste Plan.



The Draft Plan which was drawn up by a team of national and international consultants led by RPS-MCOS Consulting Engineers. The Draft Plan goes on public display for two months until 30th June, starting on Monday 25th April. The local authorities will welcome comments and submissions on its contents.



"We concentrated from the start on improving recycling facilities and making it easier for everyone in the Region to start to recycle," says Matt Twomey, Chairman, Dublin Region Waste Steering Group. "We‘‘re delighted with the huge progress we‘‘ve made in providing recycling facilities and the incredible support we‘‘ve received from the public. Preventing and reducing waste is key to the success of any waste plan. Every household needs to reduce the amount of waste they produce by buying goods with less packaging and home composting, if they have a garden. Central composting facilities will be next to come on stream, with two new plants to be developed in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal County Council‘‘s administrative areas. We will be introducing a separate collection and biological treatment of organic (vegeatable, fruit and garden) waste from households and business, with the aim of producing clean, high quality compost."



"The proportion of waste going to landfill has been reduced to 74%, down from 93%. With the current landfills nearing capacity, the proposed new Fingal landfill will be essential to provide adequate safe disposal for residual waste", Matt Twomey continues. "The proposed incinerator at Poolbeg will be developed through a public private partnership and a service provider will be appointed in 2005 to commence the planning and waste licensing stages."



All waste collectors now have to have a waste collection permit to collect and dispose of waste legally and the local authorities have set up regulation and enforcement teams to monitor the industry. Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council have set up a "Regional Enforcement Unit" to support the Local Authorities in their day-to-day activities. When the fully integrated approach to waste management is implemented, waste costs will begin to level out. Ends



Achieved since 1998:



Green Bin service provided to 350,000 households, apartments and schools 26% of household, commercial & industrial waste recycled in 2003 compared to only 7% in 1997 6 Recycling Centres, 9 community bring centres and 258 bring banks operating New regional facility procured for the processing of dry recyclable materials – equipment being procured 22,500 home compost bins sold 6 Environmental Awareness Officers appointed 313 registered Green Schools; 59 Green Flags awarded to schools Green waste composting facility in SDCC



PLAN TARGETS TO 2013



· 59% Recycling – recycling / bring centres, green bins, brown bins plus commercial sector and construction/ demolition waste recycling

· 25% Energy Recovery – thermal treatment plant at Poolbeg Peninsula with annual capacity of 400,000 – 600,000 tonnes

· 15% Landfill – new Fingal Landfill to replace existi