The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that the Republic must stop relying on other countries to dispose of its waste. However, to deal with domestic hazardous waste, the State must have a national incinerator and promote policies aimed at prevention, re-use and education, the agency said.
The main elements of the EPA's plan are:
Hazardous waste prevention and minimisation - an ambitious prevention programme costing £43.5 million has been planned. As a first step an expert "prevention team" is to be put together to advise the private sector.
The reduction of hazardous waste disposal to 1996 levels and the elimination of unreported hazardous wastes.
Assistance, both financial and technical, to be provided for companies engaging in hazardous waste prevention. However, disincentives are also to be imposed by implementing the "polluter-pays" principle.
An improved collection service is to be established for small quantities of household, agricultural, industrial and commercial hazardous waste.
Improved enforcement of existing legislation by regulatory authorities and the provision of information to waste generators is to be put in place. This is seen as essential to ensure that all hazardous waste is properly segregated and separately collected.
Continued grant assistance and funding for organisations authorised to store, recover and dispose of a diverse range of hazardous wastes. Regulation in the form of licences to ensure that such facilities operate to a high environmental standard.
"Commercial disposal capacity" to be provided for those hazardous wastes that are currently exported.
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