Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before I bring in Deputy Whitmore, I want to follow up on the point I was making about incentivising the waste collection companies to help their customers to help the planet. Is there sufficient authority within the EPA and the local authorities to properly regulate those collection companies to inform their customers that they are literally making more out of those customers because customers are doing certain things, whereas if they use their brown bin, there is a reduction in overall cost because it is done on a weight basis? Does the EPA in particular, or the local authorities, have a role in helping those companies to help their consumer base?

Another point I wanted to raise was regarding transparency, which again goes back to the point about the charging relationships with their customers. Do the EPA and the Department feel that sufficiently robust arrangements are in place?

Unfortunately, I want to go back to the old conversation we have had many times about packaging. We need to work with our European partners, but we must also take a significant lead where possible to try to reduce packaging. I will go back to the point I was making about the pack for a stew, a stir fry or whatever it is. We just do not have the ability to walk into a store where a recyclable container is available so we can go and pick the individual items we want. This is really only available in the larger stores or in the slightly artisan-style supermarkets, rather than in the large, low-cost multiples. If we are going to turn the corner on food waste, then that is a very clear and, dare I say it, simple solution. It is simple for us. It might be difficult for them, but that is their problem. They would be charging for it. We must figure out how to do this and get it brought in effectively. I put those questions to the witnesses.