Rapid economic growth has generated a huge increase in waste volumes, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, told her party's waste-management conference in Dublin yesterday. EU directives meant that Ireland must adopt "a more responsible approach" to waste-management, she said.
Waste-minimisation and reduction must be an integral part of public policy and recycling must be used to the greatest practicable extent. It was incumbent on politicians "to give leadership" on the issue, the Tanaiste said.