Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the issues facing landscape gardeners; if she will liaise with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to facilitate the development of composting collection points and facilities in view of the growing importance of the amenity sector for horticulturists. [34237/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the issues facing landscape gardeners relating to the disposal of waste material and the development of composting collection points.

Waste management planning is primarily a matter for local authorities, including ensuring that recycling and recovery facilities, identified as being necessary in regional waste management plans, are provided. The obligation on local authorities to provide for such facilities relates to household waste only. It is, therefore, the responsibility of those producing green waste, such as landscape gardeners, as a consequence of commercial activity to ensure that such waste is appropriately managed and to meet the associated costs. This is consistent with an appropriate application of the polluter pays principle.

I understand that local authorities are currently reviewing their waste management plans and that the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government met landscapers' representatives earlier this summer and recommended that the landscape contractors liaise directly with the relevant local authorities in this regard.

That Department has consulted my Department on the preparation of the draft national strategy on biodegradable waste. The strategy, currently being finalised following a public consultation process, will set out a range of integrated measures designed, in accordance with the waste hierarchy, to facilitate the achievement of specified targets for the reduction of biodegradable municipal waste consigned to landfill.