Cullen’s plan for incineration and more household charges – a cover-up for pathetic failure to implement radical and effective policy
Joe Higgins T.D. Socialist Party
The
stated intention of the Minister for the Environment, Mr. Cullen, to fast track
the building of incinerators and to pile more refuse charges on householders
amount to a cover up for the pathetic failure of successive Governments to
invest in, and implement radical policies for dealing with waste.
The
National Waste Database Report 1998 showed that households produce only 1.5% of
total waste while agricultural, industrial and construction waste amounted to
95.3%. Successive Governments have
failed to move decisively to compel large-scale reduction at source and invest
in comprehensive recycling projects.
Irish Glass Bottle
The
absolute lack of commitment of this Government was clearly seen in the closure
of the Irish Glass Bottle Plant at Ringsend (a copy of an earlier statement
showing what was possible here in terms of a recycling initiative accompanies
this statement).
Incineration and Household Charges
Incineration
pollutes the environment while private incinerator operations have an incentive
to increase, not reduce, the amount of waste being burned. It also produces large quantities of ash
which goes to landfill.
The
Minister’s intention to pile more charges on householders will be
resisted. A substantial amount of
household waste could be eliminated by forcing an end to unnecessary packaging
and putting in place comprehensive composting and recycling programmes. Levying a refuse tax is again a substitute
for effective reduction and recycling programmes. The already strong Anti- Bin Tax Campaign in Dublin will be
intensified.
The
Fianna Fáil/ Progressive Democrat Government chooses to tax householders rather
than tax the major polluters. This year
alone, big business is getting €329 million in corporation tax reductions from
the Government. This amount, invested
in waste management, could revolutionise the situation.
For further information, contact Joe Higgins T.D.
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