International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

40.0 National Construction and Demolition Waste
Council - Ireland
40.1 Outline of Policy
The National Construction and Demolition Waste Council was set up as a voluntary
industry body. The role of the Council is to provide a framework to achieve compliance
with the targets as set out by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government
in the Policy Document 'Changing Our Ways (1998) 738 and such other policies as may
be set from time to time by the Government 739. The objective of the Council was to
implement the recommendations of Task Force B4 'Recycling of Construction and
Demolition Waste'. The Council also carries out research, prepares action plans and
gives advice and guidance in relation to all matters of Construction and Demolition
Waste and makes recommendations on the measures/steps that might be taken to
ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
40.2 Policy Context and Reason for Introduction
The Department of Environment and Local Government published “Changing our
Ways” in September 1998. The document addressed the substantial increase in
waste generation in Ireland and the over dependence on landfill as a waste
management vehicle. The document acknowledged the lack of progress in the more
desirable options including prevention and minimisation
minimisation.
minimisation
The document identified the construction sector as having the primary responsibility
to ensure the environmentally sound management of C&D waste. In May 2001, the
Forum for the Construction Industry through Task Force B4 released its final report
entitled Recycling of Construction and Demolition Waste 740 . This document contained
66 recommendations on C&D waste management. These recommendations
identified the need for the industry to develop environmental sustainability policies
addressing C&D waste prevention or reduction. One of these recommendations was
the formation of a national council for C&D waste management.
In December 2001, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
accepted the recommendations of Task Force B4 and authorised the establishment
of the National Construction and Demolition Waste Council.
738 DoEHLG (1998) Waste Management - Changing our Ways, September 1998.
739 Previous examples include: DoEHLG (2002) Preventing and Recycling Waste – Delivering Change;
DoEHLG (2004) Waste Management – Taking Stock and Moving Forward.
740 Construction Industry – Task Force (2001) Recycling of Construction & Demolition Waste, B4
Report.
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