Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
162. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that offshore islands are exempt from the new EU legislation in regards to brown bin collection services; what food waste collection services are available to communities on offshore islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7222/24]
View answerWaste collection service providers are not currently required to provide a segregated waste collection service on the offshore islands. These exemptions were introduced to take account of the fact that it may not be possible for all such islands to be accessed by waste collection trucks.
In the absence of a dedicated food waste collection service householders on the offshore islands are encouraged to home compost their food waste where possible. Please see www.mywaste.ie/what-to-do-with-my-food-waste/ for further information.
I understand that the forthcoming Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy, which will launched by the local authority sector shortly, will include a specific action to address the issue of waste collection on our offshore islands through examining the existing waste collection systems and identifying appropriate enhancements in line with international best practice and the waste hierarchy.
