We can no longer live in a kind of cloud cuckoo land where developed countries are paid to clean up our mess. Our days as a rural society are long gone. The Celtic Tiger has brought industrial development and toxic waste, as well as considerable financial benefits, and the time has come to take our responsibilities to the environment seriously. That may involve contentious landfill, incineration and recycling plants. Their location will cause controversy. But such issues must be confronted.
It is better that we address such matters honestly and maturely as a society and decide what is, or is not, acceptable as a form of toxic waste treatment, rather than behaving as if foreign exports and landfill will continue to solve our problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated debate on the options open to us and invited submissions from the public before the end of the year. At that stage, it will produce a Hazardous Waste Management Plan for the years 2008 to 2012.
We have a poor record regarding the disposal of waste. Large-scale illegal landfills have blighted the countryside. Fly-tipping is endemic. And large amounts of materials, including 10 per cent of toxic waste, simply go missing. In spite of that, the position has actually improved in recent years because of the exertions of the European Commission and the EPA.
Unless we are prepared to turn the clock back on economic development, hazardous waste cannot be prevented. But it can be coped with in varying ways. The EPA suggests we should plan for self-sufficiency and provide for the treatment, landfill and disposal by incineration of such materials on a cross-border basis. At the moment we export nearly half of all hazardous waste that is officially collected, at great expense, when it would be cost-effective and environmentally sustainable to deal with it at home. The amount of toxic waste available for treatment is likely to rise as small businesses and households are encouraged to bring hazardous materials to local centres for disposal.
Solvents are the largest single component of our hazardous waste output and nearly 50,000 tonnes were exported last year. The EPA estimates that if double that amount was processed here, it would reduce transport-based greenhouse gas emissions by 88 per cent; contribute to Ireland's climate change strategy and help to reduce multi-million euro fines for failing to meet our Kyoto commitments.
Waste treatment brings problems as well as opportunities. People object to the establishment of local centres. But jobs are created and the environment can benefit from the use of modern technologies. Doing nothing is not an option. And exporting hazardous materials is both short-term and wasteful. A public debate will help to establish parameters. But the Government and Minister for the Environment John Gormley should encourage innovation by providing financial incentives for a range of treatment facilities.