27 November 2002

PRESS RELEASE

GREENS ACCUSE IBEC OF ‘FLAMETHROWER’ APPROACH TO WASTE PROBLEM

The Green Party has said that IBEC’s incinerator approach is not the answer to our waste management problems.

Green Party Dáil Environment spokesperson,  Ciaran Cuffe T.D.,  said today,  “There are many difficulties with incineration.   Incineration  creates greenhouse gases and contributes to Climate Change;  it leaves a residue of  toxic ash that can amount to 25% of the original waste; it can produce poisonous dioxins in flue gases;  it reduces the incentive to recycle; and it is an expensive technology to build and run.”

Mr. Cuffe said that the alternative is the ‘three  R’s’  -  reduction, re-use and re-cycling with well-managed landfill for the remainder.

“Incineration will damage our agricultural industry, our food industry

and our tourism. It is not the way forward.   Instead we must aspire towards

a zero-waste policy, as is the case in parts of Australia and New Zealand.”

INFORMATION

Ciarán Cuffe, TD     087 265 2075 or 618 3082

Stephen Rawson, Press Officer                                    087 235 7551 or 618 4088