I accept, in theory, that the polluter pays principle requires that householders in Waterford and elsewhere pay the full economic cost of the recycling of their waste. The practical reality is that this would probably require refuse charges to increase to almost €1,000 per house, which is politically and practically unrealistic. Perhaps this is the direction in which the Government intends to go. Some say this is the re-introduction of rates through the back door and it is hard to disagree with this theory.