Bill giving county managers power on waste 'dictatorial'

The Minister for Environment Mr Dempsey is to introduce special powers at local authority level to speed up the adoption of regional waste management plans throughout the State.

Under the Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2001 published today the power to adopt a waste management plan will become an executive function of the local authority manager.

The proposal to give county managers the exclusive power to make waste management plans is undemocratic Eamon Gilmore TD, Labour’s environment spokesman

Although elected members will still have the power to vary or replace a plan they will not be able to alter a manager’s decision for up to four years.

Mr Dempsey said his Department’s attempt to introduce adequate waste management plans has been at all times frustrated by a number of local authorities.

He said delays and difficulties had dogged the process mainly because of controversy over incineration and landfill options.

The State’s waste recycling rate was among the worst in the EU and the situation was simply no longer sustainable, Mr Dempsey said.

Labour’s environment spokesman Mr Eamon Gilmore TD said Mr Dempsey’s Waste Management Bill was a panic measure which seriously damaged local democracy.

He said: "The proposal to give county managers the exclusive power to make waste management plans is undemocratic. The Bill removes all power from elected councillors for the making of waste management plans.

"This extraordinary dictatorial measure is designed to facilitate Minister Dempsey's agenda to construct five regional incinerators," he said.

Fine Gael’s Ms Deirdre Clune TD said the Minister’s proposal was undemocratic and did nothing to promote reduction, reuse and recycling of waste.

Mr Dempsey rejected the accusations. He said: "I remain as committed as ever to the development of a vigorous and more relevant local government system."

"However I could not allow the current drift to continue. We have already lost too much time - we must act now in order to begin the process of developing a modern and efficient waste management infrastructure and an improved waste service."

At present only 9 per cent of the State's municipal waste is recovered for recycling. The EU is currently taking a case against Ireland’s ongoing failure to meet its waste-management obligations.

The Bill will also introduce an environmental levy of up to 15p on plastic shopping bags and a landfill levy at an initial rate of £15 per tonne.