John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 1501: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he proposes to undertake in order to reduce the number of charity bags that are currently being put through people's doors; if these charities need a licence to do same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28993/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste promotes the reuse of textiles. In particular it advises householders to bring good quality textiles to charity and second-hand shops and encourages local authorities to accept waste textiles at recycling centres. Householders should exercise caution in relation to door-to-door collections of second-hand clothes. Genuine charities may benefit from such collections but bogus operators may undermine traditional charity shops.

Local authorities have adequate powers to control such activities if they are of the opinion that any person is collecting waste for the purposes of reward, with a view to profit, or otherwise in the course of business. Section 34(1) of the Waste Management Act 1996 requires that any such person must obtain a waste collection permit from the relevant local authority. A waste collection permit is needed for each region in which the person intends to collect waste. It is a matter for individual local authorities to decide if an individual / business is involved in the collection, transport or storage of "waste". In making their decision, local authorities are guided by the definition of waste which is set down in the Waste Management Act 1996.