The landfill levy was increased from €20 per tonne to €25 per tonne with effect from 31 December 2009. I intend to increase the landfill levy by a further €5 per tonne with effect from the 1 of February 2010. This will bring the levy to €30 per tonne and will further assist in addressing the race to the bottom in landfill gate fees which currently acts as a barrier to achieving the challenging diversion targets set out in the Landfill Directive. I do not anticipate any further increases in 2010.
Under existing legislation it is only possible to increase the landfill levy by a maximum of €5 per tonne in each financial year. This does not allow sufficient flexibility to set the levy at a rate appropriate to support compliance with the Landfill Directive targets. Therefore, I have already announced that I will be introducing new legislation on waste levies this year with the intention of increasing the landfill levy to €50 per tonne in 2011 and to €75 per tonne in 2012.
These increases will help Ireland achieve the far more demanding targets set under the Landfill Directive for 2013 and 2016.