Archived press release

Waste strategy failure

29 June 2004

Official confirmation that Northern Ireland's Waste Management Strategy has failed came today in a report [1] that did not mince its words. The report from the Waste Management Advisory Board states that only 14 out of 90 targets [2] have been achieved over the three years of the strategy. Significantly, its first recommendation is that an independent Environmental Protection Agency is established. [3]

Environmentalists responded by congratulating the Board on its report. John Woods, Director
(Northern Ireland) of Friends of the Earth said:

"It is highly significant that a body comprising business leaders, local government, environmental organisations and academics have unanimously condemned Environment and Heritage Service for comprehensively failing to deliver on its own waste management strategy. They have arrived at the
important conclusion that EHS is not up to the job and that an independent Environmental Protection Agency should be established. Friends of the Earth fully supports the Board on this ."

On the key target of recycling 25% of household waste by 2005, the Board reports "Northern Ireland has failed to deliver"[4] and comments merely "some evidence of patchy progress"[5]. On the DOE's commitment to use recycled materials, the Board said "no progress"[6]. Reducing demolition waste going to landfill was "not measured - progress likely to be minimal."[7] The report identifies a "huge infrastructure deficit"[8] in waste management facilities including for recycling and for dealing with hazardous waste.

Key failures included an inadequate implementation plan and the lack of clear objectives. The Board states "this level of planning has not been completed for any key commitments" [9] and it appears that no implementation plan existed for most of the first three years.

Serious questions are raised as to the competence of staff within Environment and Heritage Service. The report says that "a formal business planning process has not been used" [10] in implementing new waste regulations and that there is a lack of appropriately qualified staff.

John Woods said: "Not only has EHS failed to recruit qualified staff but questions must be asked about the performance of senior management. This is just the first of three reports on EHS's waste unit [11] to be published this year. We expect that the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of the House of Commons will confirm Friends of the Earth's impression of chaotic complacence within EHS. Some senior managers should start considering their positions."

Notes

[1] (back) Waste Management Advisory Board for Northern Ireland: Waste Management Strategy Review Report. May 2004. To be launched at 11.30am at Parliament Buildings by Angela Smith MP.

[2] (back) Ibid. appendix 1

[3] (back) Ibid. piii

[4] (back) Ibid. para 2.2.1

[5, 6 & 7] (back) Ibid. appendix 1.1

[8] (back) Ibid. appendix 1.4

[9] (back) Ibid. para 2.8.3

[10] (back) Ibid. para 2.4.1

[11] (back) The Waste and Contaminated Land Unit of Environment and Heritage Service (a DOE agency) is responsible for the Waste Management Strategy.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust