Waste prevention was identified as a key area for action in last year's Delivering Change policy statement. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, is in the final stages of having a national waste prevention programme established. This will operate through the EPA and a core prevention team will be established within the agency to drive the programme. Arising from the success of the plastic bags levy in achieving important prevention and re-use objectives, we recently commissioned consultants to examine the issues surrounding the implementation of economic instruments, including environmental levies, on other problematic materials such as chewing gum, fast food packaging and ATM receipts. This report will be received shortly and the Minister will study it carefully with a view to bringing forward detailed proposals at the earliest opportunity.