Sir, - Dr Conchur O Bradaigh (January 29th) aims at confining the debate on waste management to solely domestic waste. This component, however, accounts for only about 20 per cent of total waste. It is a frequently repeated error to focus on domestic waste only. However, a sustainable waste management system has been developed and an integrated assessment is called for. Waste prevention is our overall goal and so is recycling, but it should not be forgotten that waste is also a resource. Waste contains energy and raw material resources that may be utilised. Only through an integrated approach can optimal solutions be achieved.
The figures for overall Danish waste management have been mentioned already: recycling (64 per cent), incineration (24 per cent) and landfills (12 per cent). Likewise the figures for treatment of domestic waste. The Danish government's waste management plan 1998-2004 aims at an even higher rate of recycling.
Dr O Bradaigh mentions data concerning dioxin in milk in Denmark. They are, however, 10 years old and not unique for Denmark. The figures mentioned apply also to our neighbouring countries. Emission of dioxin is a regional problem - a problem mainly caused by the manufacturing industry - and it cannot be linked specifically to Danish waste management.
To ensure that all waste which can be recycled actually will be recycled, the Danish government has levied a tax of £35 a ton on waste which is incinerated and £40 a ton on waste deposited in landfills.
Many other incentives have been introduced to encourage recycling. Concerning the residuum which cannot be recycled, we prefer to recover the energy contained in the waste. We do this in plants with a low dioxin emission. This policy reduces the emission of greenhouse gases from landfills.
Recycling is better than incineration, which again is better than landfills, which take up space, smell and threaten ground-water resources. Although we have come a long way in Denmark, we certainly can do even better. But the course we are following is undoubtedly right.
Waste management is a huge problem for all of us. It serves no purpose to smear the efforts of other countries. In Denmark we will continue to develop our waste model, and we will pass on experience gained to the EU and other member-states, just as we will be inspired by solutions in other countries. By co-operating for better waste management within the EU we can achieve considerable results. - Yours, etc.,
Helge Andreasen, Deputy Director General, Danish Environment Protection Agency, Copenhagen.