Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost of providing a home composting unit to all houses here. [41262/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought is not available in my Department. The National Strategy on Biodegradable Waste, published in April 2006, is aimed at the progressive diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill by 2016 to 35% of the amount of biodegradable municipal waste generated in the baseline year of 1995. This will be achieved through a combination of measures — separated biodegradable waste can be composted at home or delivered to local recycling centres while separate collection of organic waste will be required in all suitable urban and rural areas as part of an integrated collection system.

While the cost of providing a compost bin is a matter in the first instance for the householder, the use of such a bin can reduce a household's overall waste management bill and I understand that compost bins are generally available at reduced prices from local authorities.