I propose to take Questions Nos. 246, 247 and 254 together.
Government waste policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy, as set out in the EU’s Waste Framework Directive. A number of specific measures have been, and will continue to be, introduced to reduce the amount of waste generated in the State and to increase the segregation of waste which cannot be prevented in line with Government policy. The introduction of pay-by-weight charges for the collection of household waste is one such measure.
In response to the pricing plans proposed earlier this month by the waste industry in relation to the nationwide roll-out of pay-by-weight charging, both I and my Ministerial colleagues have highlighted significant concerns regarding the reported escalation of waste bills for some customers from July, particularly in relation to some proposed increases in service charges.
Following intense engagement and meetings with representatives of the waste industry over the last few days, the Government has agreed a way forward that results in customers paying no more than they are currently paying for waste over the next 12 months, by means of a price freeze. This transition period should give households time to adapt to the new system and learn how to more effectively manage their waste.
During this transition period, customers will be able to see
details in their bills of the amount of waste they are disposing, their costs under their current price plan and details of the comparative pay-by-weight charge. Where households become more efficient in segregating waste and reduce their waste bills, they will have the opportunity, from 1 January 2017 at latest, to choose to transition to pay-by-weight charging or, if they prefer, they can opt to remain on their current price plan.
Over the coming months, the Government, in partnership with the waste industry, will drive an intensive public awareness, information and promotion campaign to support customers in understanding the new system, how they can change their waste management behaviour and manage better their waste costs under the pay-by-weight system.
At the end of this 12-month transition period, the Government will review the operation of pay-by-weight, including the effectiveness of the transition process, and make decisions regarding its further roll-out, regulation and oversight.
In relation to the issue of waiver for certain households, during the period in which local authorities were directly involved in the collection of household waste, a minority of individual Councils offered different levels of discount to selected households, based on different qualification criteria. As local authorities exited the waste collection market, some required the private operators which took on the Councils’ customers to provide a level of discount for existing waiver customers only, and even then for a limited time.
The vast majority of such contractual commitments for private operators to provide a waiver have now expired. In that context, the number of households in receipt of waiver discounts is likely to decline further over time, especially as some householders were able to take advantage of special reduced offers elsewhere which actually undercut the waiver price. However, selected private operators still offer some level of discount to former waiver customers on a voluntary basis.
In addition, a very limited number of local authorities make financial contributions toward the cost of the collection of waste from certain households. Again, the qualification criteria and level of support differ from area to area.
With the exception of one or two municipal districts, local authorities no longer collect waste and the market is now serviced by a diverse range of private operators, where the fees charged are primarily a matter between service provider and customer and the services offered vary across the country.
