Incinerator dispute - All waste options must be considered

Reliance on landfill for the disposal of waste is no longer a realistic option, as we have come a long way from the “throw it in a hole and forget about it” approach, according to Environment Minister Dick Roche.

He contends that we have been adopting a new approach that meets the highest European standards.

Prior to the 1990s, the concept of municipal waste recycling was virtually non-existent in this country. However, by 1998, it had grown to 9% of all municipal waste, and it more than tripled over the following five years.