The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) is calling for the immediate establishment of a National Waste Authority to deal with the problem of waste disposal.
According to Mr Don O’ Sullivan, CIF director for main contracting, the failure of authorities at local, regional and national level to deal with the issue is threatening inward investment and curtailing business activity in the country.
Speaking at a meeting of the Construction and Demolition Waste National Awareness Programme, Mr O’ Sullivan said the issue of waste was a national priority and called on the incoming Government to fast track the planning process for waste disposal facilities.
The construction industry has set itself the target of reducing construction and demolition waste by 50 per cent through re-cycling over the next 3 years, with a progressive increase to at least 85 per cent over 13 years.
However, Mr O’ Sullivan said, it was unreasonable to expect the industry to shoulder all the costs of meeting these specific targets.
"The public seems to be in denial about the seriousness of the situation," Mr O’ Sullivan said.
" . . .While the industry accepts responsibility to ensure that waste generated must be minimised, it can only achieve this if all of the partners within the industry including clients, architects, engineers, material producers, suppliers, local authorities, Government and the entire building team play their part."
The CIF is also calling for tax relief schemes or direct grant aid for private companies and local authorities who provide quality re-cycling facilities.
Other key technical aspects that need to be addressed according to the CIF are:
- Processing centres, transfer stations and basic re-cycling facilities be necessary so that materials can be brought to one site for sorting and segregation;
- Skips which facilitate segregation of waste are needed;
- Training and research will be vital to the successful implementation of many of these innovative measures;
- Training of staff in the construction industry from operatives through trades to off site professionals must be supported by Government Policy measures.
Mr O’ Sullivan was speaking at the waste disposal national awareness programme for the construction industry being held in Dublin today.
The programmes are a joint venture between the CIF and FÁS in response to some of the recommendations proposed in the report of the Forum for the Construction Industry on the Recycling of C&D Waste.