Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the practice of some local authorities charging for recycling of household waste at civic amenity sites or green bin collections; his views on whether this is in keeping with the polluter pays principle and the need to meet recycling targets here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3912/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Tens of thousands of tonnes of domestic recyclables are collected by local authorities or treated at civic amenity sites each year. The cost to local authorities for the collection, transport and separation of these materials prior to recycling ranges from €35 to €300 per tonne depending on the types of material involved. While the setting of waste charges is a matter for individual local authorities, it is not apparent that a nominal charge for such services would contravene the polluter pays principle.

Local authorities provide free bring sites situated throughout their functional areas; in many instances they provide a Chem Car service free of charge for the disposal of hazardous waste streams such as paint, solvents and medicines, while facilities for the disposal of WEEE are also provided free of charge.