Vol. 546 No. 4
102 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the date in 2002 he intends to introduce the charge of £15 per tonne at landfill sites operated by local authorities; if private operators will be levied in the same manner; and the purpose of the charge. [31991/01]
I propose to introduce the landfill levy early in 2002 following consideration of the submissions received in response to the consultation paper recently issued by my Department. This proposed that the levy should be introduced at an initial flat rate of 15 per tonne, with annual increases thereafter of 5 per tonne. Liability for the levy will fall on the operator of a landfill facility, whether that is a natural person, a private company or a local authority.
The introduction of a landfill levy will help achieve the targets set in the Government's policy document changing our ways, by encouraging the diversion of waste away from landfill towards recycling and biological treatment options; generate revenues for the new environment fund that can be applied in support of waste minimisation and "high-in-hierarchy" recycling initiatives; and support improved enforcement initiatives by local authorities with regard to control of unauthorised waste activities.
