de Brún debates issue of waste management

6 February, 2008

Sinn Féin MEP, Bairbre de Brún speaking in advance of a meeting with Sinn Féin colleagues in the Assembly on the Environment, focusing on waste management has said,

‘Waste management is a key issue facing Ireland, North and South in the time ahead’.

Ms de Brún who is shadowing this important portfolio at EU level continued:

“Today’s meeting with the All Ireland Sinn Féin advisory group on the Environment highlights the importance with which our party takes this subject.

“Revision of the Waste Framework Directive at EU level will have important investment implications for Ireland, North and South. The EU legislation is expected to include targets for prevention and recycling and both local government and the Assembly need to be aware of this.

“Efforts to meet the present EU landfill directive also need to leave us in a position where we will be able to meet our recycling targets in the future.

“We need to emphasise the prevention of waste, reuse and recycling. Incineration is one of the least environmentally friendly options. Ireland needs to put major resources and policy emphasis on the more positive levels of the waste hierarchy.” ENDS