Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the increasing use of food waste disposal units across the European Union and the trend in a number of member states to provide incentives for householders to install and use such units, particularly in high density housing units and inner city areas; the steps he is taking to evaluate and facilitate the use of these units here; the role they have to play in the effective management of food waste, particularly such waste that is not ideally suitable for composting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37997/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under Article 5 of Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste, member states of the European Union are required to prepare and oversee the implementation of a national strategy on biodegradable waste which will set out measures to progressively divert biodegradable municipal waste away from landfill in accordance with specified targets over a fifteen year period.

In April 2004, Ireland's first draft national strategy on biodegradable waste, which was published for public consultation, set out a range of integrated measures designed to facilitate the achievement of these ambitious diversion targets. The issue of food macerators or grinders and their use in domestic kitchens is being looked at in the context of the final draft of this strategy, which is hoped to be published shortly.