Archived press release

Who will carry the can for waste debacle?

28 February 2005

As a House of Commons Committee published a damning report on Northern Ireland's waste management strategy [1], Friends of the Earth demanded that heads should roll in the Department of the Environment (DOE).

In its report the Committee described the Government's leadership role as "a lamentable performance"[2], quoting the fact that it had taken four years to set up a waste management steering group and had achieved only four of fifteen leadership targets.

While DOE claimed in a written submission that "very substantial progress has been achieved" [3] on the strategy, the MPs countered with their opinion that "overall [progress] has been slight"[4].

MPs further warned that because of Northern Ireland's failure to reduce waste going to landfill, a requirement under European law, we could be in line to pay a substantial share of fines of £180million per annum[5]. Describing planning and procurement processes as "seriously behind schedule" the Committee says that "the prospect of meeting the first Landfill Directive target in 2010 looks bleak."[6]

In a salvo aimed at DOE's Planning Service the Committee said it was "deeply concerned at the continuing delays in dealing with planning applications for waste management facilities"[7]. MPs said "We were astonished to learn that it can take up to ten years to get planning permission for waste management facilities."[8]

Friends of the Earth gave evidence to the Committee and is quoted extensively in the final report. Director (Northern Ireland) John Woods said today:

"This report spells out what we all know - that since the launch of Northern Ireland's Waste Strategy five years ago the DOE has failed to deliver on its own targets and those required under European law. It is now time for individual civil service managers to be held to account for what can only be described as incompetence.

"The DOE has the powers it needs, included planning powers, to implement a successful strategy. As we head towards an ever growing waste crisis it is time to clear out the dead wood and employ managers who are up to the job."

Notes

[1] (back) Waste Management Strategy in Northern Ireland, House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Sixth Report of Session 2004-05, published here.
[2] (back) Ibid. para 54.
[3] (back) Ibid. para. 11
[4] (back) Ibid. para. 19
[5] (back) Ibid. para. 21
[6] (back) Ibid. para. 42
[7] (back) Ibid. para. 30
[8] (back) Ibid. para. 24

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust