Speaking yesterday following the publication of 1998-2003, Waste Management: Taking Stock and Moving Forward, he said those pushing zero waste for Ireland were trying to win quick popularity and ignoring the reality.
Minister Cullen said: “Those advocating a zero waste policy have zero credibility. Had the government adopted such an approach in our regional waste management plans, Ireland's waste management capability would be in a sorry state today, people would be paying more in taxes and foreign investors would not come to Ireland.”
The minister's comments came as he announced a range of funding measures set out in the Republic of Ireland's first five-year waste management report.
In a new direction regarding the private sector, Minister Cullen revealed that funds that had previously been used to support private waste management companies will now be used to increase waste enforcement.
“Further development of a more professional waste industry is best served by not proceeding with the previously envisaged scheme of grants for private companies and instead diverting the resources into additional enforcement activities,” the minister said.
Other funding measures included a four-year National Waste Prevention Programme which was launched with an initial fund of 2 million euros (1.3 million).
The Programme will be implemented by a Core Prevention Team within the Environment Protection Agency and will be responsible for monitoring and providing guidance on waste minimisation for all types of waste with a specific focus on producer responsibility.
Dr Gerry Byrne, programme manager at the EPA, said: “The prevention and minimisation of waste represents the pinnacle of waste management and is essential if Ireland is to break the link between economic growth and increasing waste generation.”
Markets
By giving 1 million euros (660,000) for a Market Development Group to develop outlets for recyclable materials, the Irish government has also created an organisation that will operate in a similar vein to the UK's ReMades.
Among other funding measures, the government also allocated 25 million euros (16.5 million) from its Environment Fund for the provision of 20 new local authority recycling facilities.
The Minister said: “The range of initiatives I have announced today will ensure that we are well equipped to continue to make progress.”
Trend
The new funding was announced by the government in conjunction with the publication of 1998-2003, Waste Management: Taking Stock and Moving Forward.
The report showed that the number of households with access to a segregated collection of dry recyclables has increased from 70,000 in 1998 to 560,000, representing 42% of households in Ireland.
In addition to increased recycling, planning permission has been granted for two thermal treatment facilities, with a further three at various stages in the planning and procurement process.
Minister Cullen said: “We must continue to drive towards higher recycling and the delivery of thermal treatment capacity. The evidence shows that landfilling is the most damaging of all options. We must maintain the downward trend in out use of landfill and meet the ambitions EU and national targets we have set.”
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