Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will respond to a matter (details supplied) regarding waste bin collection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20742/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Under section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996 it is open to a local authority to enter into an agreement with a private sector service provider in relation to the collection of household waste and a number of local authorities have done so. However, it should be noted that such developments have not necessarily resulted in the abandonment of waiver schemes; in several local authority areas in which the local authority has withdrawn from direct service provision a waiver scheme has remained in operation.

The Government has committed to the introduction of competitive tendering for household waste collection, whereby service providers will bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. I have recently published a discussion document to help inform the public consultation process, which provides details of how such a reorganisation of household waste collection might work, identifies potential benefits and presents some questions to which it is hoped consultees will respond. The discussion document, which also discusses pricing and waivers, is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.

I look forward to all interests in the waste sector, including consumers, engaging with the consultation process, which is open until 2 September 2011.