Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The Senator said the opposite a few moments ago. He may or may not realise that the gate fees relating to landfill sites have decreased to such a degree that materials which could be recycled are being placed in landfill. I do not believe that is in the interests of environmental or waste policy. By increasing landfill levies to such an extent, I am giving an incentive to people to move away from landfill and to seek other ways to dispose of waste. That is the essence of good environmental practice but perhaps the Senator does not want us to proceed in this way. We need to build on the work of the national waste prevention programme, particularly that aspect of it which relates to the food waste campaign. We must support the diversion of material from landfill otherwise we will not comply with our 2013 and 2016 targets. I do not want the taxpayer to be obliged to pay up to €41 million per year in fines to the European Commission in the event of our failing to meet those targets.

Diverting material from landfill is a critical element of waste policy. We are placing emphasis on increased recycling. It will not be possible to encourage people to recycle unless we increase the gate fees relating to landfill. There is evidence to suggest that discounts are being offered at landfill sites which can accommodate larger volumes. There is an incentive for certain local authorities that have spent a great deal of money on landfill sites and for private operators that have invested heavily in landfill infrastructure to ensure that the material they require is brought to their facilities. That prevents this material from being recycled or entering any other part of the waste stream. I am not exclusively depending on the landfill levy to achieve that to which I refer. A regulatory impact assessment is being carried out at present in respect of household food waste regulations and the rolling out of the brown bin system. I hope this will provide another incentive for people to move away from landfill.

The restrictions Senator Ó Domhnaill proposes in respect of the amount that can be charged in the form of a landfill levy would ensure that people would continue to have an incentive to move towards landfill at a time when we are trying to divert from it to meet our 2013 and 2016 targets. Failure to meet those targets will mean that we will be obliged to pay up to €41 million per annum in fines to the European Commission. I am not prepared to accept that. Accordingly, I reject the amendment.