ONE OF the State’s economic agencies warned yesterday that the regional approach to waste management was hindering the development of proper treatment facilities.

Forfás, the Government’s enterprise and trade advisory body, yesterday published the findings of a report into the Republic’s waste management industry and infrastructure.

“Ireland has 10 waste regions of varying sizes, which means that decisions on the rollout of infrastructure are primarily made at regional or county level,” the agency said.

“This regionally-based waste planning framework is hindering the delivery of cost-effective, commercially-viable waste treatment options as it tends to result in smaller scale, less commercially-viable facilities than would be the case if infrastructure and planning were done at a national level.”

Forfás also pointed out that the Republic needed “thermal treatment capacity” – incinerators – and more biological treatment.

The agency said the State continued to perform poorly when it comes to meeting businesses’ waste management needs.

It noted that the Republic still has high waste costs and limited waste management infrastructure compared to countries that are competing for the same investment.

“We need to co-ordinate multiple regional waste management plans, create policy and regulatory certainty, reduce planning lead times and ensure that waste services are competitively priced,” Forfás said.

“Government and enterprise need to work together to ensure that Ireland matches comparator countries in reducing the amount of waste generated.”