Sinn Féin Dublin Spokesperson on the Environment, Councillor Daithí Doolan, speaking at the review of the region’s Waste Management Plan, has called, “for a new Waste Management Plan that does not simply promote incineration but actually tackles the waste crisis this city faces.”

Cllr. Doolan said: “The review is vital if we are to change the direction of the waste management plan. As it currently stands, the plan is simply a pro-incineration document. Its cornerstone is to build a super size incinerator in Ringsend and then ensure that it burns our waste 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year right into the future.

“An incinerator in Dublin will not become part of the solution but will in fact become part of the problem. The incinerator will only encourage us to produce more waste to keep its flames burning and profits rolling into the pockets of its private owner.

“This is totally unsatisfactory. Nobody doubts that we face a waste crisis but simply building a burning machine will not help. What we need is a strategy that actually tackles the core issue of waste production. Sinn Féin has made a lengthy submission to this review, in it we call for the adoption of a Zero Waste Strategy. This strategy is based on aiming to have zero waste within a given timeframe.

This can be done by reducing the waste we produce as a society, reusing where appropriate and by investing in our fledgling recycling industry and making it a viable, profitable alternative to simply burning or burying our increasing waste.”

In conclusion Cllr. Daithí Doolan claimed, “The review must not be seen as a white wash. To have any credibility, the review must move away from incineration and adopt a Zero Waste Strategy.”