Ibec opposes waste regulator

Action is needed to prevent damage to the economy from the cost of dealing with waste, the business group Ibec has said.

Action is needed to prevent damage to the economy from the cost of dealing with waste, the business group Ibec has said.

In a statement, Ibec said it was "strongly opposed" to the establishment of a waste regulator.

The Government is currently consulting interested parties on the issue and has indicated a decision will be made by the end of the year.

Waste management costs apply to every firm and the burden on business has risen enormously
Ibec statement

Ibec, however, said the proposal was "unnecessary, inefficient and duplicates what others either are doing or should be doing".

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"Establishing a regulator is likely to be lengthy, complex, adversarial, and costly," said Ibec assistant director Donal Buckley.

"Sufficient policies, legislation and institutions currently exist to bring about the desired change in a quicker and more effective manner. Significant laws already exists relating to waste planning, facilities, operators and producers, policed by both the EPA and the local authorities," a statement added.

The business lobby group has put forward a 10-point plan as an alternative to a regulator to deliver what it said was the "sustainable and competitive" waste management Ireland needs.

"Waste management costs apply to every firm and the burden on business has risen enormously; despite business waste volumes rising modestly between 1995 and 2004, disposal costs rose 1,680 per cent from €32 million to €800 million," Ibec said.

"Prices reflect the market structure, capacity constraints and lack of competition, not the cost of providing the service. Waste charges rose rapidly since 2000 reaching a €250 per tonne high, levelling-off in 2005, falling back in 2006 but remaining amongst the highest in the EU."

Ibec said the rises were not compensated for by the delivery of alternatives to landfill and it said current prices would "inevitably rise again once disposal capacity tightens".

"Business needs prices that are both competitive and sustainable, accruing no benefit from short lived, cheap landfill prices as cyclical rises and falls in price deter investment in alternatives. Action is required to avert damage to our economy, environment and reputation as a location of choice for foreign direct investment."

Acknowledging there had been progress on the collection of domestic waste, Ibec said that the heavy infrastructure needed by business is still not in place.

"Business needs are not being met; policymakers at national and local level almost exclusively focus on household waste despite its 1.7 million tonnes only accounting for 2 per cenrt of overall waste."