Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

I dispute the notion that there is a free recycling service. In many cases, particularly in rural areas, a private company provides the service and an annual fee is payable in respect of all bins collected. What will happen as a result of the Minister's provision is that there will be an increase in annual collection service charges to meet the cost of the levy on the landfill element. Service providers will add a flat-rate charge to each household, irrespective of whether one's bin is full or only half full. While I can see where the Minister is coming from in principle, what will happen in practice is that all customers of private operators will be hit with an additional flat-rate charge.