Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to change the provisions of the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 section 75 (2) whereby the occupiers rather than the owners of single dwelling rental units are liable for local authority waste charges; his views on whether that in many areas of the country this situation is contributing to serious litter problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2567/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 the determination of waste management charges, and any associated waiver scheme, is a matter for the relevant local authority, where it acts as the service provider. Local authorities and central government are working together to comply with the "polluter pays" principle, as this is a core element of national and EU environmental policy, including in the area of waste management. In accordance with this policy, all of society must be encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle waste to the maximum extent possible.

In order to encourage households, whether owner occupied or rented, to minimise their waste, all local authorities and private waste operators were asked to begin a switch to use-based charging arrangements from the start of 2005. These arrangements do not justify any recourse by persons in illegal waste activity and local authorities have the powers necessary to deal with such infringements.