While on the subject of implementing waste management policy and plans, it would be remiss of me not to say a few words on the issue of waste charges, which has been the subject of some attention over recent months, particularly in the Dublin area. Across Europe, direct user charges for household waste collection services are widely applied, particularly in the context of increasing awareness of the financial and environmental cost of waste generation and of encouraging waste reduction and recycling. It is only logical that such principled support for waste charges should be built into EU policy and legislation. The polluter pays principle, one of the cornerstones of EU environmental policy, is therefore reflected in waste legislation at European level as well as in Ireland.