The process of devising a national hazardous waste management plan begins today, with advertisements in the national newspapers inviting submissions. A draft version of the plan is expected early next year. Details of the strategy were announced yesterday by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, at the University Industry Centre, Belfield, Dublin.
He said local authorities would have to integrate the measures with their own strategies, stressing the need to involve as many people as possible in the consultation process.
Under legislation passed last year, preparation and implementation of the proposals are the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA will take submissions until September 17th, and will again consult the public after publication of the draft proposals.
The agency has appointed consultants from the firm Tobin Environmental Services Ltd to carry out a strategy study in parallel with the main survey.
The director of the EPA, Ms Anne Butler, said a broadening of EU definitions meant that much more waste was now designated hazardous. Preparation for the plan would include completion of an inventory of hazardous waste, including sources, quantities and compositions.
She said that after identifying the range of waste materials, the agency would devise solutions "to prevent, reduce, reuse, recover or dispose of hazardous waste and we will be putting particular emphasis on prevention".
Mr Dempsey said while there were recently-developed facilities for dealing with some items - like batteries and fluorescent lights - there was still a reliance on exports for at least 10 per cent of hazardous waste.
In a seminar after the announcement of the strategy, there were calls from both the employers' organisation, IBEC, and the environmental group, An Taisce, for more consideration to be given to the practical requirements for implementing the new measures.
A former chairman of An Taisce, Mr Frank Convery, said the plan would require the sanction of the Department of Finance and he urged the Department's involvement at an early stage.
IBEC representative Ms Mary Kelly said that while a plan would be welcomed by industry, employers needed to be assured that adequate infrastructure would be put in place.
