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Waste Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 July 2020

Wednesday, 22 July 2020

Questions (66)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

66. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will introduce a waste waiver scheme for persons with disabilities as promised by the last Government [17455/20]

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Written answers

My Department has been examining this issue in detail and has engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representative organisations and the HSE, in an effort to see how best to support persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear. However, there are complex issues at play in this area, which are understandable given the sensitive nature of the medical data in question.

Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced. A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017 to monitor the on-going cost of residential waste collection to homeowners across Ireland as the ‘flat-rate structure’ was being phased out. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings have been observed, the overall trend has been relative price stability. Results from the PMG are available on my Department's website. I will shortly be bringing forward an ambitious new Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy which will contain important measures to enhance consumer protection in our waste collection system.

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