Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this issue, to which I am responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughten. The charges applied by waste management companies are matters for those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. The mandatory pay-by-weight per kilogramme charging structure for household waste collection was due to be introduced in mid-2016. As the waste industry began releasing its proposed pay-by-weight prices in June 2016, the Government relayed to the industry its concern about the reported escalation of waste bills for customers of certain companies. As a result, on 30 June last regulations were signed to remove the requirement for a mandatory pay-by-weight charging structure. A review of the pricing structures used for the collection of household waste, with a focus on encouraging households to prevent, separate and recycle waste and reduce residual waste going to landfill, is due to be completed by July 2017.

My understanding of the case raised by Deputy Moynihan is that a collector has identified that a small percentage of customers consistently and repeatedly present extremely heavy residual waste bins, in some cases weighing over 120 kg. The presentation of this amount of waste for collection presents risks on a number of fronts, most significantly in terms of the health and safety of the staff collecting the bins. If every household presented such large volumes of waste, the capacity of collectors to deal with the material would be called into question. Our capacity to manage and treat the waste we produce has been called into sharp focus this year. A serious problem with regard to waste operators' access to outlets for the disposal of residual waste has been encountered in 2016. This issue will be further compounded if our society does not seek to change its behaviour in terms of the amount of waste it generates. I understand that heavy users will not be charged on a pay-by-weight basis if they present less than 30 kg of residual waste per fortnight - this is an allowance of over three quarters of a tonne per annum - or less than 22 kg of recyclable waste per fortnight - this an allowance of well over half a tonne per annum.

I am informed that the collector is in the process of rolling out food waste bins. This will give householders an opportunity to further reduce the waste going into their residual bins. Measures that incentivise a change in behaviour, especially by encouraging a reduction in the generation of waste and particularly residual waste, will not only lessen our impact on the environment but will also help to ensure we have the capacity and capability to manage our waste appropriately today and into the future. If householders are not happy with the service they are receiving, it is open to them to take their custom elsewhere if they believe they can obtain better value with a rival collector. I appreciate that this is not always possible in rural areas where there may be just one provider. The more serious issue here, and the reason the changes that were intended to come into force in July of this year were originally mooted, is the ongoing concern about capacity in landfill facilities. I am sure no politician in this House would like to have to attend a public meeting to make the case for new landfills around this country to deal with a growing waste problem as our economy and our population grows.

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