The Government has published a discussion document for public consultation concerning the development of a new national waste policy. The Programme for Government commits to putting in place a national waste policy that will adhere to the EU waste hierarchy and deliver a coherent approach to waste management, minimising the waste going to landfill and maximising resource recovery.
The discussion document now being published has been prepared against that background. It is designed to promote discussion and debate and to provide an opportunity for all interested parties to input into the development of a policy framework that will shape our approach to waste management for the next decade and beyond. It is important that the new policy is informed by a broad range of interests.
“In addition to receiving the essential perspectives of analysts of waste policy and the waste industry itself, I am anxious also to receive the views of the public and those businesses and other organisations which are customers of waste services,” comments Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. “The discussion document is not prescriptive – instead it sets out a range of possible policy initiatives and issues for wider consideration and presents a real opportunity for interested parties to contribute to shaping a new national waste policy.”
The consultation period will close on Friday 30 September 2011 and it is intended that the finalised policy will be completed by end-2011. The discussion document is available on the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government website – www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Waste/WasteManagement/FileDownLoad,27540,en.pdf.