COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF ENVIRONMENT SPC
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
HEADED ITEM NO. 5
HEADED ITEM: G. Lee
5. Evaluation of the Waste Management Plan for the Dublin Region.
REPLY:
Evaluation of the Waste Management Plan for the Dublin Region.
This is to advise that the Dublin Waste Management Region (comprising of Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council) has commenced an evaluation of the Dublin Regional Waste Management Plan 2005- 2010 and, consequent on this evaluation, the Plan will be revised or replaced as necessary to comply with the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) transposed through European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 126 of 2011). The existing Dublin Regional Waste Management Plan must be evaluated by 31 December 2012.
The subsequent revision or replacement of waste management plans will require Strategic Environmental Assessment and will have regard to the Appropriate Assessment requirements under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).
The requirement for the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Waste Management Plans arises out of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive 2001/42/EC as transposed through European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 435 of 2004). The objective of S.I. 435 of 2004 is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations with the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes, with a view to promoting sustainable development by ensuring that an environmental assessment is carried out of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment.
The process of revision or replacement of the Regional Waste Management Plan will be subject to two separate formal consultation phases:
- When a decision is made to revise or replace the existing plan, and on the initiation of a screening and scoping phase of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and initiation of an Appropriate Assessment, if required; and,
2. On preparation of the draft plan, Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and Appropriate Assessment, if required.
The Dublin Region Waste Management Region is participating in a National Coordination Committee, which has been set up to provide an appropriate support mechanism for the Regions to coordinate the required evaluation process in line with statutory requirements.
It should be noted that the Government is committed to the preparation of a new National Waste Policy which may modify the composition of the waste management planning regions, which would have implications for the revision or replacement of plans. Nevertheless, the Waste Framework Directive states that waste management plans shall set out “an analysis of the current waste management situation in the geographical entity concerned” thus allowing flexibility in the evaluation process.
Further information is available on www.dublinwaste.ie