17th February 2005

Communications, Marine & Natural Resources

Waste Disposed Of In The Department

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the total weight of waste that his Department produces within its own offices in the last year for which figures are available; the breakdown of he weight produced by paper, glass, aluminium and steel cans, textiles, plastics, organic waste, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, hazardous waste and mixed waste respectively; the percentage of weight in each category which is recycled; and the details of any contracts his Department has for this disposal, reduction or re-use of waste.

Minister For Communications, Marine & Natural Resources: My Department does not currently maintain a database in regard to the amount of waste generated, and accordingly, I am not in a position to provide specific breakdowns of figures or percentages of waste by the categories listed by the Deputy. The collection of waste is generally handled by Ipodec in the Dublin area and by local arrangement in the Department’s country offices.

My Department has a comprehensive waste paper recycling programme in place whereby such paper is collected for recycling each month. This is carried out by DMG Services Ltd. Cardboard is collected for recycling by Ipodec in two of the Department’s Dublin Offices. Also there is an arrangement in those offices for the collection of bottle and cans for recycling. Monthly collections of toner cartridges are made by Temple Street Children’s Hospital for recycling purposes. All redundant IT equipment is handed over to companies who specialise in recycling electronic equipment. The items are dissembled, with components being reused or recycled as appropriate. There is not a standing contract in place for environmental disposal of IT equipment. Quotations are sought from recycling companies when a suitable quantity of material has accumulated.