Seanad debates
Thursday, 13 February 2003
Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed).
I am sure the Minister is aware of what is happening in this area in Waterford. It is a particularly attractive, yet simple, system, on which Members have seen some of the recent television programmes. Like many good ideas, it is so simple that one would ask oneself why has every other local authority not thought of it. Under this system, every rural house in County Waterford is given two plastic bags every fortnight, a black plastic bag for non-recyclable waste and a clear plastic bag for recyclable waste. They are collected on a fortnightly basis. The clear plastic bags are taken to a purpose built unit where they are separated by hand. While it might appear old-fashioned, this system is effective. Under such a system, a premium charge can be imposed on the collection of non-recyclable waste while recyclable waste can be collected at an advantageous rate. People can be given an incentive to use recycling options while a harsher charge or penalty can be imposed on the collection of non-recyclable waste. That is road we must go down. We cannot accept the maintenance of the status quo where every landfill site is full and people are not acting responsibly in regard to waste disposal.
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