[Sinn Fein]

5th May 2002


Waste reduction and reusing and not incineration is the answer to the waste management crisis

Sinn Fein Louth Councillor Arthur Morgan today launched the party's proposals for a new zero waste strategy that prioritises the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste. He criticised the government for failing to implement a comprehensive and effective waste management system and for imposing plans for a network of incinerators. Cllr. Morgan said:

``There is a real waste management crisis. Landfill sites are overflowing, illegal dumping is widespread, and litter is out of control. The Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats Government has failed to implement a comprehensive and effective waste management system. Instead it has imposed plans for a network of waste incinerators around the State as the primary response to the crisis.

``Although the FF/PD Government saw that there was widespread opposition to plans for waste incinerators it still forced the Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2000 through the Dáil to take powers over waste management away from the elected representatives of the people on local councils. It thus made a nonsense of the supposed public consultation and local authority approval process for regional waste management plans.

``The Government's policy has been driven by its unwillingness to make the main producers of waste pay their fair share and by the incinerator business lobby which stands to make huge profits from the establishment and running of a waste industry in Ireland.

Sinn Fein proposes:-


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