Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2019
70. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated number of households here without a waste collection service; and the actions he is taking to help address this issue. [14007/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent Central Statistics Office figures (2016) state that there are over 1.7 million households in the state. A Report from September 2018 prepared by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) on the household waste collection industry suggests a non-participation rate of 23% based on an analysis of data from the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the CSO. This would imply some 1.3 million households avail of a waste collection service. The remainder may bin share, may not have a collection service available or may choose to dispose of their waste at a civic amenity site and home compost.
Funding has been provided under the 2018 Anti-Dumping Initiative to support a pilot project undertaken by Sligo County Council aimed at tackling and addressing the source of illegal dumping through an Eircodes investigation. It is anticipated that this approach will facilitate the process of trying to deal with illegal dumping, the burning of waste and unauthorised waste management. This will form a model of best practice for other Local Authorities to adopt, which in turn will work towards curbing illegal dumping activity nationally.
It should be noted that many local authorities have already introduced bye-laws and that the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices have prepared a template to help standardise bye-laws on the presentation of waste. The template bye-laws place the onus of proof on the householder to prove that they are managing their waste correctly by signing up to a waste collection service or providing receipts for the deposit of waste in authorised facilities.
