A Thursday up-date Blog from Donie

Big decrease in waste from Ireland’s homes for 2010

      

Compost waste bins on a Dublin street this year.

The amount of waste generated in Ireland’s households has dropped, the  National Waste Report for 2010 shows.

The report, which is published today, was undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

It showed that:

• A total of 2,846,115 tonnes of municipal waste was generated, a decrease of 3.6 per cent on 2009.
• Ireland’s municipal waste recycling rate (excluding energy recovery) is 38 per cent, close to the EU27 norm of 40 per cent.
• Municipal waste disposed to landfill was 1,495,565 t, a decrease of 13 per cent from 2009.
• The UK remains the principal initial destination for Irish municipal waste recyclables.
• Household waste decreased by 5 per cent to 1,420,706 t despite a rise in population, which the EPA says “strongly reflects national personal consumption trends”.
• However, 29 per cent of occupied houses did not participate in, or are not offered, a waste collection service.
• Household waste disposed at landfills also decreased – by 20 per cent to 843,842 t. This represents 184 kg household waste disposed to landfill per person in the State.
• The quantity of household waste collected at kerbside decreased by 4 per cent in 2010
• The private sector collected 65 per cent of household kerbside waste (up from 60 per cent in 2009 and 57 per cent in 2008), reflecting the fact that local authorities are moving out of the household waste collection market.
• Galway City Council and Waterford County Council are the only local authorities which still provide household waste collection.

TARGETS

The report states that Ireland has met the first EU Landfill Directive biodegradable municipal waste diversion target.

The quantity of biodegradable municipal waste disposed at landfill decreased by 19 per cent from 2009 to 860,000 t.

The separate kerbside collection of household  organic waste increased from 62,447 t in 2009 to 63,836 t in 2010 despite a greater penetration of the organic bin collection service.

The quantity of commercial waste managed dropped by 12 per cent.

Galway cannabis growing factory case is adjourned until April 8th

       

The case of a 30-year-old man charged with cultivating cannabis plants with a potential value of up to €4,000 has been adjourned.

At Galway District Court on Monday Viron Kaja with an address given as 12 The Stables, College Road, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy charged with the alleged cultivation of cannabis plants without licence and possession of cannabis at 29 Baile An Choiste, Headford Road, and possession of methadone at Monivea Road, contrary to Section 17 and 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, on May 29, 2011.

Inspector Mick Coppinger told the court that had the cannabis plants reached maturity they would be valued at €4,000. He further explained that the Director of Public Prosecutions has consented to the matter being dealt with summarily in the district court.

Judge Fahy accepted jurisdiction, granted legal aid, and adjourned the matter to April 8 next for mention.