A Study of Pay-by-use Systems for Maximising Waste Reduction Behaviour in Ireland, published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2011, indicates that pay-by-weight on a per kilogram basis is the most effective Pay-by-use (PBU) system in terms of waste prevention, waste recycling and diversion of waste from landfill.
In this regard and as part of the development of a comprehensive new regulatory framework to reform the regulation of the collection of household waste in 2015, my Department is working on legislation to provide a statutory requirement for all collectors of household waste to operate a “pay-by-weight” system as a condition of their permit. The intention is that collectors will be required to be ‘pay-by-weight’ ready by 1 July 2015 and will be required to charge all their customers on a pay-by-weight basis from 1 July 2016. The period of 12 months during which collectors will be required to weigh the waste collected and indicate the weight to customers will allow householders time to adjust to the new pricing structure before it becomes mandatory from 1 July, 2016. While the regulatory framework being considered is initially focused on the collection of household waste, applying pay-by-use requirements to other waste streams, including commercial waste, will also be considered.