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Forfás has launched its report - Waste Management
in Ireland: Benchmarking Analysis and Policy Requirements.
This report, which includes an update of Ireland's comparative
performance across key indicators - such as costs, treatment
options and capacity - focuses on the policy issues that need
to be addressed to enable Ireland meet the waste management
needs of the enterprise sector.
Speaking on the launch of the report, Martin Cronin, Forfás
Chief Executive commented - "Maintaining economic progress
in Ireland is contingent on good environmental practices and
the availability of modern waste management facilities. The
availability of a choice of competitively-priced and secure
waste management options - such as landfill, thermal treatment,
recycling and reuse - is crucial to business.
"Municipal waste recycling has progressed significantly
in Ireland in recent years - with the target for waste recycling
of 35 percent by 2013 being achieved eight years ahead of
schedule in 2005. There have also been a number of important
developments during the last year that will play a key role
in improving Ireland's waste management performance. These
include the funding for waste infrastructure under the new
NDP, the enactment of the Strategic Infrastructure Act and
the consultation on the regulation of the waste sector.
"Nevertheless, from an enterprise perspective, Ireland
continues to perform poorly relative to the benchmark countries,
in meeting their waste management needs. Of particular concern
are the high costs and the heavy reliance on landfill"
- said Mr Cronin.
The benchmarking analysis highlighted three policy actions
needed to improve Ireland's comparative performance in meeting
the waste management needs of the enterprise base -
- Addressing Infrastructure Deficits.
Ireland's relatively high dependence on landfill is mainly
due to the limited progress that has been made in delivering
hard waste infrastructure. Specific infrastructures required
include thermal treatment for hazardous and non-hazardous
waste, biological treatment and reprocessing facilities.
- Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Delivery.
There are a number of impediments to accelerating the delivery
of waste infrastructure nationally.
These include:
- Market reform to promote competition;
- Co-ordination of regional waste plans - and
- Improving the planning process to reduce lengthy delays
in rolling-out infrastructure.
- Waste Minimisation and Prevention.
Investing resources in waste prevention and minimisation
offers potential long-term benefits for the competitiveness
of enterprises. A range of waste/pollution prevention initiatives
is being undertaken by different organisations such as the
development agencies - IBEC and the EPA.
These organisations need to continue their efforts to ensure
that businesses are fully aware of the benefits of waste
prevention.
To download the report - Click
Here
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