Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2017
364. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a bin company's contracts with customers give the company permission to access customers' homes without their knowledge or approval; his views on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33196/17]
View answer366. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on plans by a waste company (details supplied) to levy hefty fines on customers for contaminated waste in view of the fact that the same company's terms and conditions forbids tampering with bins, meaning locks to same cannot be affixed, and therefore persons cannot fully control the type of waste that may be placed in their bins by third parties on the street. [33244/17]
View answer377. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the regulation in place to allow a waste company impose a fine for waste incorrectly placed in the wrong coloured bin. [33532/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 364, 366 and 377 together.
The terms and conditions of consumer contracts do not fall within my remit as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It is my understanding that the issues raised are the subject of terms and conditions of private contracts between householders and household waste collection companies.
It is also my understanding that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has worked with the waste sector to try to ensure operators’ terms and conditions are transparent and do not contain any unfair terms. The CCPC also offers useful advice for householders entering new contracts available to download at https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/contracts-and-services/waste-collection/.
Similarly, the CCPC has produced a guide for household waste collectors to make operators aware that the service provided is a commercial practice and, as such, is subject to a number of laws, available to download at https://www.ccpc.ie/business/help-for-business/guidelines-for-business/domestic-waste-collection-sector/.
As I have already stated, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will be asked to report on the operation of the household waste collection market in order to inform the future development of national waste management policy before year end.
