Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of local authorities that have a brown bin collection in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2451/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The National Waste Report 2008, published by the EPA, provides the latest data in this regard. The separate kerbside collection of household food and garden waste in brown bins increased substantially from 18,705 tonnes in 2007 to 37,920 tonnes in 2008 and I would expect to see further increases in 2009 and into the future.

The number of local authority areas where household brown bin waste was collected at kerbside increased from 13 in 2007 to 16 in 2008 mainly due to private operators offering the service.

A comprehensive circular letter (WPPR 17/08) issued to each local authority in July 2008 requesting that appropriate steps be taken to support an accelerated roll out of segregated collections for organic waste ('brown bins') both to domestic households and to commercial organisations. Such bins could be provided directly by local authorities where the local authorities remain in the business of waste collection or, alternatively, utilising the existing waste collection permitting system where the service is provided by the private sector. My Department intends to issue a further circular letter to local authorities to accelerate progress in the roll out of brown bins and further promote the benefits of home composting.