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Waste Disposal

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Questions (626, 697, 698, 699)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

626. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a waste disposal company in the Dublin area is now charging €9 for six plastic bags for households to segregate their recyclable waste; his views on whether this will discourage persons from recycling; the provision, if any, that has been made for a waiver for those on social welfare who cannot afford to pay for such bags; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57890/12]

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Michael Conaghan

Question:

697. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the all-inclusive fixed-price bin collection offers now available from refuse companies in Dublin are in keeping with Ireland’s obligations under European Law and the polluter pays principal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1833/13]

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Michael Conaghan

Question:

698. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the recent decision by Greyhound Recycling to charge for recycling bags is in compliance with regulations and in line with the policy objective of encouraging the recycling of household waste. [1834/13]

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Michael Conaghan

Question:

699. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the difficulties in the private refuse collection sector since the privatisation of the Dublin City Council bin collection service, if he has considered appointing a regulator for the refuse sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1835/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 697 to 699, inclusive, together.

Environmental standards in relation to the collection of waste, and their enforcement, are the responsibility of local authorities and are governed by the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007 as amended by the Waste Management (Collection Permit) (Amendment) Regulations 2008. In practice, I understand that waste collection permits do, in fact, contain a range of conditions to be met by waste collectors. Section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996 precludes me from the exercise of any power or control in relation to the performance by a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.  The operational implications of the transfer of waste collection services by local authorities to private operators are also matters in the first instance for the local authorities concerned.

My Department’s role is to provide a comprehensive legislative and waste policy framework through which the relevant regulatory bodies, such as the local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency, operate. In this regard, I published A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland in July, 2012 setting out a range of measures which will significantly revise the current regulatory regime to ensure, inter alia, that waste collected is managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy as set out in the Waste Framework Directive, whereby prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery are favoured over the disposal of waste.  The policy specifically provides that household waste collection permits issued under the revised permitting system will require waste collectors to operate pricing structures designed to incentivise environmentally sustainable behaviours by households in terms of waste reduction and segregation.  The policy further provides that strengthened enforcement of permit conditions relating to segregated collections will be initiated, with appropriate financial penalties being specified for breaches of such conditions, and possible withdrawal of permits in cases of serious breaches.

The work of developing new regulatory structures to give effect to the measures set out in the waste policy is underway and my Department is engaging with a range of key stakeholders in relation to the detailed design of the new system.  It is my intention that the improved regulatory regime will deliver both enhanced environmental performance and ensure a quality service for consumers.

In relation to the provision of waste collection waivers, another of the measures included in the Government’s waste policy is the establishment of an interdepartmental working group to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low income households. The working group, which comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Finance; and the Tánaiste's Office, submitted its first report to Government on 11 December 2012.  Government considered the report and the working group is to continue to examine the design and implementation of measures to address the issue and will provide a further report to Government by 31 March 2013.

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