Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, by which service providers will bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. A public consultation process on the issues involved, designed to inform the policy development process, has recently concluded. The responses received are being examined and I intend to bring policy proposals to the Government before the end of the year.

The role of local government in the waste collection system has changed considerably in recent years. Most local authorities have withdrawn from the waste collection market and no longer offer a service to householders. A number of local authorities have entered into arrangements to sell their household waste collection service to private sector waste collectors, in effect transferring clients to a private sector collector.

Section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996 requires local authorities to provide household waste collection services unless specified conditions, including unreasonably high costs, pertain. The future role and responsibilities of local authorities in the household waste collection sector, including in any system of competitive tendering, is under consideration in the context of the policy development process to be concluded by the end of the year.

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