Written Answers. - Waste Management. Tuesday, 6 November 2001

Dáil Eireann Debate Vol. 543 No. 2 Page of 598

  537.  Mr. Sargent      asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government      the legislation which transposed EU decision 2000/532/EC into law; and if it has not been transposed, when this will occur. [26747/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):    Having regard to the provisions of section 4 of the Waste Management Act, 1996, Commission decision 2000/532/EC, which replaced previous decisions establishing a European waste catalogue and a hazardous waste list and which comes into effect on 1 January 2002, will have automatic effect within Irish legislation.

  538.  Mr. Sargent      asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government      his views on whether bottom ash from incinerators could be used in the construction industry. [26748/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):    A 2000 report concerning substance flow analysis for dioxins in Denmark, financed by the Danish EPA, indicated that dioxin levels in samples of bottom ash ranged from 5.1 to 17.8 ng I-TEQ/kg dry matter. The equivalent figures for samples of flue gas treatment residues, such as fly ash, ranged from 135 to 35,566 ng I-TEQ/kg dry matter. As a result of the significant disparity in the level of pollutants in fly and bottom ashes, the former is classified in the EU as a hazardous waste, while the latter is classified as non-hazardous. Following screening and sorting, bottom ash is used for a variety of construction applications in other EU member [631] states. The use of bottom ash by the Irish construction industry does not arise at this time. In due course, this question may be addressed having regard, inter alia, to available recovery technologies, relevant regulatory controls and industry demand.

Question No. 539 answered with Question No. 470.

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Last Updated: 10/09/2010 20:26:46

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