Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend the many environmental organisations, including Tidy Towns, green schools and the local authorities, for their valued efforts to ensure we have some from of waste control and education in the whole process.

The polluter pays principle has always been the cornerstone of waste management plans and the inevitable pay-by-weight regime is slowly but surely starting to bite. Fianna Fáil is of the view that the pay-by-weight system should not be introduced, particularly in areas where there is little or no competition, until a regulator is put in place to monitor the regimes and a fair price per kilo is set across the board.

We have all said that 50% of households are already paying by weight, so their costs should not be subject to any increase. We need to work with and educate the remaining 50%. The objective should be reducing people’s bills. If the Minister believes in the system he is proposing, he should be able to give a guarantee that if those people do the right thing in terms of what he is saying is required, they will not see an undue hike in their charges. The objective should also be reducing our waste as a society by nurturing good recycling habits. Irish people have a great track record in adopting new good habits, as we saw not just in the plastic bag issue but using reusable shopping bags.

It should be possible to establish a reasonable cost for disposal of waste that allows for a percentage profit for waste companies. A regulator should be capable of ensuring unscrupulous profiteering by waste management companies is not allowed over the interests of the householder.

Ireland has a serious situation looming on the horizon regarding landfill diversion targets. Increased recycling could see us divert another 35% of waste away from landfill. Some of the steps could include the minimisation of packaging waste at the point of manufacturing, offering more loose food products that are packaging free, and encouraging retailers to take back unwanted packaging. Our spokesperson, Deputy Dooley, cited the example of the size of the packaging of a new mobile phone. There is no reason the consumer should have to pay to get rid of that waste. We must encourage consumers to think before they purchase and only to purchase what will be consumed.

I am acutely aware of the growing fly tipping problem throughout the country. However, the problem is not just fly tipping. In two townlands in my parish, the biggest ever illegal dumps were discovered. I know the cost of that as against all the work being done by the various community groups. The consumer must also be cognisant of those smaller services offering to dispose of larger goods and should check their waste disposal licence as many of those services are not licensed and the material ends up being dumped in a ditch.

I could speak on this topic all night, but I wish to give my colleagues an opportunity to contribute.

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