The Green Party today called for a ban on incineration as it unveiled a new bill seeking to amend current waste-management legislation.
The party will introduce its Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2002 for debate in the Dáil later today. The bill also proposes introducing stricter measures on recycling and demands legislation to ensure local councillors are accountable for waste policy for their administrative area.
Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent TD, accused the Government of "criminal irresponsibility" in facilitating proposals for incineration by private companies. If introduced, incineration would destroy markets for Irish agriculture and tourism as well as damaging health and food quality, he said.
"If the Government is allowed to casually cut back on recycling initiatives while handing over incineration schemes to private companies, then generations for the next 30 to 40 years will ask how this was allowed to happen," Mr Sargent said.
Mr Ciaran Cuffe, Dún Laoighaire TD and the party's environment spokesman, said the Government and public must work in tandem to improve waste reduction, re-use and recycling. He called for a system of well-managed landfills for any waste remaining.
"This can ensure that the clean green image of Ireland is maintained and enhanced for future generations," he said. "Ireland's image abroad and our markets for agricultural produce, and our food industry, depend on it".