Attitudes of businesses to waste have changed primarily because of EU directives and legislation, said Mr Liam McCallion of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce. Mr McCallion is the organiser of the 4th National Environment Conference taking place in Dundalk.
"We had a fairly easy-going attitude to waste management in this country because we always had a big hole we could put it into. It was realised that this cannot go on and, from a business perspective, people began to see the cost of landfill rising.
"You will find that most are responsible; cost is one of the things driving them but they also realise they have a responsibility to the environment and want to ensure they do not create a problem and also can reduce their costs." He admitted awareness is coming about because of the enforcement of EU directives, "we might still be sitting back waiting for something to happen".
Waste management is an area of rapid growth, which has provided business opportunities according to Mr Frank Coombes, director of Deloitte & Touche, who is addressing delegates today. "It has been an area of rapid growth, particularly for existing waste management companies to expand and there has been consolidation in the market allowing existing companies to realise their value . . . the cost of landfill has quadrupled over the last year and legislation is getting more and more complex. However, we say this is also an opportunity to look at waste streams, reduce waste, reduce costs and turn waste management into a profit centre."
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, told delegates the Government is introducing measures to reduce waste going to landfill. "I will be pressing for early implementation of new initiatives for end-of-life vehicles, tyres, newsprint, batteries and electrical equipment. Where initiatives are not forthcoming, I will not hesitate to regulate.
"I have also made known my intention to dramatically cut the volume of waste going into landfill. The first step in this regard will be new packaging regulations, which I am now finalising. These will ensure that any commercial packaging waste which can be recycled will be recycled. Disposal will not be permitted.