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Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2001
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his concerns at the recently published Waste Management (Amendment) Bill 2001.
"In this proposed legislation the Minster for the Environment wants to take the decision making process on waste management away from County Councillors," says Deputy McGrath.
"This is not only undemocratic but it also proposes to give to County Managers the power to make and adopt any waste management plan."
"Westmeath County Council already adopted a waste management plan for the midlands but with new powers to be given to the County Managers this plan can be changed without the consent of the Councillors."
"In fact," says Deputy McGrath, "since Westmeath is in with four other local authorities for Waste Management purposes the situation could arise whereby the five managers of these counties would be deciding on the location of perhaps a new land-fill or an incinerator without any reference to the elected representatives," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
"This legislation, while providing for a levy on plastic shopping bags, a levy on landfill waste and the creation of an Environmental Fund from these levies, does nothing to promote the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste products.
"At a time when only 9 per cent of our waste is recycled surely the Minister should be devoting his energies to promoting recycling rather that over-riding elected representatives and granting additional wide sweeping powers to County Managers," says McGrath.
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