Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 June 2021
61. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the landfill levy was introduced; when consumers such as a person (details supplied) would have first noticed this levy on their bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33796/21]
View answerThe landfill levy was introduced under the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 and came into effect on 1 June 2002. The purpose of the charge was to effect behaviour change regarding disposal of waste to landfill and this has been successful with just 3 landfills currently in operation in the State, a reduction from 31 in 2008. In addition, our landfill rate for municipal waste was just 14% in 2018, compared to a figure of 62% recorded for 2008. The waste management market in Ireland is serviced by private companies, where prices charged are a contract matter between those companies and their customers. It is not possible therefore to state when a consumer would have first noticed any change related to the levy on their bills.
