Ireland pressing ahead with incineration levy

In a circular, seen by letsrecycle.com, that was issued to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month on Mr Gormley's behalf, it was suggested that there should be a “move away from mass burn incineration towards alternative technologies”, such as mechanical biological treatment.

The minister explained that, while infrastructure was being developed, the combination of an incineration levy alongside an increased landfill levy could act as interim measures because European landfill diversion obligations “cannot wait”.

The proposed policy direction is still subject to consultation with both the public and all stakeholders, including local authorities.

Mr Gormley had previously made a similar pledge to “shift away from incineration” after US energy-from-waste firm Covanta Energy received planning permission for a 600,000 tonnes-a-year capacity combined heat and power facility in Dublin in December 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Biowaste

In the circular, the minister also suggested a number of “key initiatives” targeting biodegradable waste and the promotion of composting. He called for a wider roll-out of brown bin collections, “intensifying efforts” to promote home composting, support for small-scale composting initiatives and source-segregated collections of commercial biowaste.

In response to Mr Gormley's recommendations, the EPA last week (June 18) said that it would be reviewing licences for landfilling of biodegradable waste in a bid to “maximise the use and value of waste before it is dispose of” and assist with the EU Landfill Directive.

Commenting on the review process, Laura Burke, director of the EPA's office of climate change, licensing and resource use, said: “The landfill licence review is another vital step in the way we manage waste in Ireland. Our aim is to make the best possible use of all waste before it is finally disposed of.”

“People in Ireland have clearly demonstrated their willingness to recycle paper, plastic and glass. We must now help them to do the same with food waste. If the waste can be recycled or recovered, then it should not be going to landfill,” she added.

The EPA has also developed a guidance document, entitled ‘Municipal solid waste: pre-treatment and residuals management', which follows consultation with the department of environment, waste operators and industry representative groups.

The guidance is set to apply to operators and developers of landfills and incinerators and requires them to show, via their waste acceptance policies, that waste accepted at their sites has been subject to appropriate pre-treatment.

Powers

In addition to his circular, Mr Gormley has also initiated a Strategic Environmental Assessment on the proposed policy direction for local authorities and the EPA, which would, among other things, require them to:

– Limit incineration capacity to ensure waste is not drawn to incineration which could have been dealt with through recycling or other methods higher up the waste hierarchy;
– Refrain from exercising their powers in such a way as to direct waste to landfill or incineration.