recycling « Trevor Sargent TD

Archive for the 'recycling' Category

- Sargent Reacts to News of Proposed Toxic Ash Storage Facility

Published 23 September, 2009 Environment , Fingal news , Horticulture , Naul , recycling Closed

23 September 2009

Toxic ash plan highlights the short-sighted reasoning of politicians who think incineration is an alternative to land-fill.

Minister for Food and Horticulture, Trevor Sargent TD, has reacted angrily to the news that a toxic ash repository is being proposed for north Fingal, given the importance of this area for farming, and horticulture in particular.

“Making a living from farming is already very difficult and presents challenges from low prices being paid by retailers as well as bad weather and the high cost of overheads. The notion of a toxic waste facility is a further headache. My fear is that this toxic facility plan would result in food production falling further and a loss of employment in a sector which is already struggling.

“I have spoken with the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, and his officials to make my feelings in this matter known and to relay the feelings of local residents and farmers in the area on hearing the news of this proposal on news programs today.”

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- Balbriggan Recycling Centre should be be kept open

Published 23 July, 2009 Balbriggan , Community , recycling Closed
Tags: Fingal County Council

23 July 2009

MINISTER SARGENT CALLS FOR RENEWED FUNDING FOR BALBRIGGAN RECYCLING CENTRE

Minister for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent TD, has confirmed that he is still in touch with all the stakeholders regarding the termination of the Council’s subsidy to FMW Recycling Centre in Balbriggan. Seeking a resolution to the funding problem, he met with PJ Howell of Fingal County Council and Eamonn Dunne of FMW Recycling Ltd. and has encouraged further discussions between them. He has also written officially to his colleague Minister John Gormley stressing the importance of this facility and to investigate any funding that may be available from the Department of Environment.

Minister Sargent said, ‘Without the subsidy, the danger now is that the facility will not attract the same level of business as before and may have to close. People are being charged for recycling by the car load and unfortunately there is the possibility of increased illegal dumping. Balbriggan is a major growth area and this centre gives locals every opportunity to recycle, which is essential for the community to be sustainable.’

He added, ‘With the closure of Balleally Civic Amenity, numerous constituents in the north County have expressed concern that they now have to travel a considerable distance to bring their recyclables. That’s why the it’s essential that a viable recycling centre continues to be provided for the people of Balbriggan and surrounding areas.’

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* WEEE Recycling in Balbriggan & Lusk

Published 12 December, 2008 Balbriggan , Lusk , recycling Closed
Tags: weee

12 December 2008

Minister Sargent Welcomes WEEE Recycling in Balbriggan & Lusk

Trevor Sargent Minister for Food & Horticulture, and TD for Dublin North, is delighted with the recent announcement that the European Recycling Platform in association with Fingal County Council will be holding two Open Days in Lusk and Balbriggan in early January.

Householders will be entitled to bring Batteries and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) free of charge for recycling, eg. fridges, washing machines, fluorescent tubes, microwaves, stereos, TVs, etc.

The Minister said, “I am most supportive of these events as a means to raise extra awareness of the availability of free recycling of all household electrical / electronic appliances. Any initiative that alleviates waste going to landfill is most welcome.”

He continued, “I hope these two days will make more people aware of the free recycling of WEEE and am delighted to learn that additional open days shall be organised at other locations in Fingal in 2009.”

The collections will take place on two consecutive days, as follows:

Friday 9th January from 10am to 4pm at Lusk United Football Club Car Park and Saturday 10th January from 10am to 4pm outside Balbriggan Recycling Centre.

The Minister noted that people could also avail of other recycling centres like the Estuary Recycling Centre in Swords where WEEE from households is accepted free of charge, if these days are not suitable.

Note for editor: European Recycling Platform is a not for profit company set up as a compliance scheme under the Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations (2005).

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- Battery Recycling Arrives

Published 25 September, 2008 Environment , Fingal news , recycling Closed
Tags: batteries, recycling

25 September 2008

EU BATTERY RECYCLING RULES IN FORCE FROM TOMORROW

Photo courtesy of Moria

Trevor Sargent, Minister for Food and Horticulture and local TD, has welcomed an EU Directive whereby users of waste batteries will be entitled to return them free of charge for recycling. 50,000 drop-off boxes have been delivered to various shops, supermarkets and garages nationwide to facilitate customers and no purchase is necessary. This comes into effect across the European Union tomorrow, 26 September 2008. Ireland is to the forefront of EU member states that will have the Directive fully transposed & operational from the commencement date.

Launching the new recycling scheme today, the Minister for the Environment John Gormley called on businesses, schools and the public service to take a lead in providing space for boxes storing waste batteries, as the achievement by Ireland of mandatory collection targets for portable batteries will be dependant on the number and accessibility of collection points. Producers will be responsible for the financing of the collection, treatment, and recycling and environmentally sound management of waste batteries.

Mobile phones, laptops and car batteries are covered by the scheme that aims to ensure that ¼ of all batteries are recycled by 2012 and nearly a half by 2016. However, leaking batteries can only be deposited at a local authority recycling centre.

Did you know? Over 2,000 tonnes of batteries are sold annually which equates to 80 million AA batteries.

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– €271,600 recycling boost for Fingal

Published 5 November, 2007 Environment , Fingal news , recycling Closed
Tags: FCC, Funding, recycling

5 November 2007

Dublin North TD and Minister for Food and Horticulture, Trevor Sargent TD, today welcomed additional funding being provided through the Environment Fund to offset the operational costs associated with bring banks and civic amenity facilities.

Minister Sargent said, “Irish waste policy needs to be guided in the direction of recycling, reduction and reuse. I welcome this funding as a step towards a more modern and green way of dealing with waste.

“Of the €4m package that Minister Gormley is providing, Fingal County Council is receiving €271,600, on the basis of the past costs and levels of recycling and recovery. The Minister is basing the grant allocations on a combination of weighted tonnage and net operating costs.

“I am pleased that this is an area in which the Green Party in Government is making progress. I would like to see Fingal lead the country on waste management issues, rather than opt for outdated methods such as landfill and incineration.”

Note
The Environment Fund was established with the revenues obtained from the Plastic Bag Levy introduced in March 2002 and the Landfill Levy introduced in July 2002. The Fund is used to provide assistance or support in respect of a range of waste management, litter and other environmental initiatives and since November 2002, almost €100m has been allocated in direct grant assistance towards the capital costs of providing a range of local authority recycling projects.

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Trevor Sargent TD

Archive for the 'recycling' Category

- Sargent Reacts to News of Proposed Toxic Ash Storage Facility

Toxic ash plan highlights the short-sighted reasoning of politicians who think incineration is an alternative to land-fill.

- Balbriggan Recycling Centre should be be kept open