Early indications from the farming community for this year’s Farm Hazardous Waste Collection Centres are that they will be as busy as previous years, Minister of State Andrew Doyle has said.

Speaking last Friday at the launch of the collection scheme at Carnew Mart in Co. Wicklow the Minister acknowledged the farmers who had supported and used the scheme in previous years.

“This scheme is a wonderful example of inter-agency cooperation, but more importantly it is an indicator of how anxious farmers are to dispose of hazardous waste in a fully traceable and environmentally sensitive manner.”

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Teagasc, and local authorities, WEEE Ireland, European Recycling Platform (ERP) and Enva to operate 10 centres for the collection of farm hazardous wastes across the country in October and November 2016.

Minister Doyle urged all farmers to avail of this opportunity to rid their farms of any such hazardous waste and that by doing so they will play their part in helping to prevent any hazardous waste incidents in the future.

He also commended the multi-agency and inter-departmental approach in organizing and funding the initiative, and applauded the EPA for their commitment to removal of hazardous waste from farms.

The opening collection last Friday in Carnew, Co Wicklow marked the start of the 2016 campaign, where some 2,000 farmers are expected to participate by clearing sheds of out-of-date chemicals and other hard-to-manage wastes.

Minister Doyle said that safe disposal of these wastes is important for every farmer in keeping the farmyard safe for themselves and their family; in producing quality-assured products; and in maintaining Ireland’s green and sustainable image.

Information on the waste types accepted, the charges applied and important information relating to the handling, segregation, packing and transporting of hazardous waste by farmers to the bring centres can be viewed here.