Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will assist a charity (details supplied) in Dublin 10 in finding a suitable location for a textile bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37930/06]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the needs of a charity (details supplied) in Dublin 12 in trying to access a suitable location for a recycling facility for used textiles; his further views on their request for information on accessing suitable raw materials for recycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37929/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 548 together.

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. There is currently competition between organisations for donations of textiles. 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.

A local authority has adequate powers to control such activities if it is of the opinion that a 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.

A charitable organisation that wishes to source textiles, either by way of a collection service or by providing bring banks, should discuss the matter in the first instance with the relevant local authority.