Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will begin with Deputy Stanley who is to be commended on his conscientiousness in this area. I have visions of him going with his shopping bag to the local shop for his groceries. It is a valuable thing to do and I wish many others would follow his example. He is to be commended on it. Civic amenity sites have a huge role to play in the overall waste management plan. I cannot stress enough that this is environment legislation. I am not dealing with industrial relations legislation.

On the pay by weight system, under the proposed new system, all customers will be charged on the basis of pay by weight plus the standing or administrative charge. The pay by weight element of the charge will cover cost of bulking, processing, transfer and treatment of the household kerbside waste collected. The pay by weight element will apply to every kilo produced, at a rate per kilogram, with each bin being weighed as part of the lift mechanism on the rear of the collection trucks.

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The rate will vary depending on the bin, with higher rates applying to the residual bin than to the brown bin which, in turn, attracts a higher per-kilogram charge than the mixed-dry recyclables. While it is not considered appropriate that rates would be set either through regulations or as a condition of collection permits, it is proposed that collectors would not be allowed to charge below certain rates, which will be specified.

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