Republican News · Thursday 1 November 2001

Waterford Sinn Féin is serious about waste

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Sinn Féin in Waterford City and County recently launched a waste management policy document for the region. David Cullinane, Sinn Féin's candidate for the Waterford constituency, rejected the 2001 Waste Management Act, which he said was an antidemocratic excuse to create incinerators and superdumps. An Phoblacht believes the Waterford document, below, is a positive initiative that could be emulated by other areas with a view to tackling the issue on an all-island basis.

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Sinn Féin condemns the passing into legislation of the 2001 Waste Management Act, which transfers powers from locally elected representatives into the hands of unelected city and county managers. Sinn Féin believes this government has spurned a golden opportunity to formulate an effective waste management plan that had at its core recycling. It opted instead for an anti-democratic Waste Management Act in order to rush through government plans for incinerators and super-dumps. As a party, Sinn Féin supports policies and legislation that seek to minimise or eliminate the release of any pollutant that may cause environmental damage to air, water, or earth, or its inhabitants.

Sinn Féin supports:

(1) The safeguarding of our rivers, lakes, wetlands, coastal zones and oceans;

(2) The sustainable use of renewable natural resources, such as water, soils and forests;

(3) The conservation of non-renewable natural resources through efficient use and careful planning;

(4) Policies and legislation that will minimise the creation of waste, especially hazardous waste and wherever possible enable the recycling of materials;

(5) Safe and responsible methods of waste disposal;

(6) Efforts to use environmentally safe and sustainable energy sources;

(7) Investment in improved energy efficiency and conservation.

Sinn Féin believes there are no easy solutions to waste management and that so-called "quick fix methods" of waste disposal such as incinerators and landfills should be resisted. These methods are not solutions to our waste management crisis and if implemented would become part of the problem.

Sinn Féin believes the only solution is:

REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE

The heart of any Waste Management Plan must begin at source. If we as a society really want to solve the waste management problem effectively, efficiently and above all in an environmentally sensitive way, well then it involves a holistic reassessment of how we as a society organise daily life. Of all the steps that must be taken to truly address the problem, the first must be that communities become involved in the discussion, the planning and running of waste management projects. They should have access to the funds and resources. Only then can we be sure we have taken the first faltering steps away from crisis and pollution and towards a safe future.

Sinn Féin calls for the building of recycling plants by local authorities, considering that up to 80% of landfill waste should not be there in the first place as it is either organic waste or packaging waste that can be recycled and reused.

It is a fact that industrial /commercial waste accounts for two thirdss of all Waterford City waste and over half of county waste. As these figures clearly show that industrial/commercial sectors are the major contributors to waste in this county Sinn Féin supports the use of environmental Eco taxes based on the polluter pays principle. Landfill taxes are especially welcome and Sinn Féin believes that there is much more scope throughout Ireland for such environmental taxes on industry.

Landfill

The most common method of disposing of waste in Waterford City and County are the use of landfills. Waterford Corporation and County Council describe the existing landfills in Kilbarry, Tramore and Dungarvan as "environmentally unacceptable". Present plans provide for the development of a new waste disposal (super-dump) facility, jointly developed between Waterford Corporation and County Council and the closure of existing landfills. Sinn Féin believes increasing the numbers of and creating larger sized landfill sites is not an acceptable solution for dealing with the waste problem in Waterford. A long-term goal of any acceptable waste management strategy must be to reject the continued use of landfill as an option for waste disposal.

Packaging

Sinn Féin believes there is a need for a transformation in the packaging industry. We believe that medium and long-term targets should be set for reducing the amount of needless paper, cardboard, plastic and metal packaging that is now such a significant feature of most manufactured goods. The cost of this should be borne by the producers and retailers of the goods, not the end purchaser.

Recycling

Recycling schemes at present can be categorised under two broad headings, source separation and non-source separation. Source separation involves the householder separating the types of waste prior to disposal. In the non-source separation method, the waste collector separates waste at a central site. At present in Waterford, those engaged in source separation have to bring the separated waste themselves to a collection or separation point known as "bring to" facilities.

While "bring to" facilities such as bottle, glass and newsprint banks are welcome initiatives, they need to be fully developed by the creation of proper recycling plants. Sinn Féin believes that separation of waste should begin at source and that on collection the waste is processed and reused through the use of central recycling plants. These plants are not only environmentally sensitive but will also create employment in our communities.

Composting

Composting schemes offer an efficient method to substantially reduce the amount of waste created and can in fact lead to the creation of a renewable resource. Sinn Féin welcomes the introduction of composting schemes in Waterford considering that 40% of local authority waste is organic food or green waste suitable for composting. Turning this waste into compost is a form of recycling that has the potential to substantially reduce the waste mountains currently being amassed.

Sinn Féin believes that present methods of home composting can be developed and supported by also carrying out composting in central recycling facilities.

Incinerators

Sinn Féin as a party has consistently voiced its opposition to unsuitable incinerator projects. Substituting the "burying" of waste for the "burning" of waste is not an option nor is it a solution. Sinn Féin believes that the question of a somehow "safe" incineration project does not arise even with the most up to date technology available, incineration will still be a cause of pollution. Incinerators create toxins and dioxins that are harmful to our health and damage the environment. Ultimately the condensed waste created through incineration is toxic waste no matter how it is dressed up. Put quite simply burning waste through incineration is no substitute for proper, efficient and environmentally friendly recycling waste disposal methods.

Zero Waste Strategy

The main practical way in which sustainable development, breaking the cycle of failed waste management strategies and increasing the role of the community in more effective and environmentally friendly waste management is to implement a zero waste management strategy for Ireland.

A zero waste strategy is an integral component of a sustainable, green economy. As populations and material use increase, the natural systems that sustain our economies and lifestyles are undergoing unprecedented pressure.

Putting a zero waste strategy in place requires the implementation of a range of polices and actions. All government departments need to report on the steps they will take to enable a zero waste strategy in response to existing waste management plans. This will enable the elimination of waste and pollution in the manufacture, storage and recycling of materials and enhance the competitiveness of the regional economy.

Inter-departmental zero waste task forces should be established, north and south, to help develop projects, milestones and timelines and to solicit public input to develop an aggressive long-term waste reduction strategic plan that will move our economy towards a zero waste future.

Conclusion

Sinn Féin recognises the importance of tackling the environmental problems that threaten not only our futures but also those of future generations. As a party we commit ourselves to the principle of sustainable development. This means committing ourselves to

Supporting only economic development, which will meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sinn Féin believes that any environmental strategy and/or policy, particularly that of Waste Management must be tackled on an All-Ireland basis.

You cannot partition environmental problems