Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to meet Ireland's need to divert an additional half a million tonnes of biodegradable waste from landfill by 2010 to meet its targets under the European Union landfill directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35803/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I am committed to implementing the measures necessary to ensure that Ireland meets the 2010, and subsequent, EU landfill diversion targets. The Government has decided to introduce primary legislation to allow significant increases in the landfill levy. In addition, I have initiated a public consultation on a statutory instrument which will require the source segregation and appropriate treatment of food waste arising from commercial premises. This consultation ends today and I will consider the results of the consultation as a matter of urgency.

Last year, my Department issued a circular to all local authorities to drive forward the roll out of brown bins and promote the use of home composting and the EPA National Waste Report 2007 indicates increased quantities of biodegradable waste are being dealt with by home composting. I am confident that all of the above measures will contribute significantly to the achievement of the targets for the diversion of waste from landfill and a reduction in our overall use of such facilities.