Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the vast amount of waste that goes unsegregated by private waste operators; if there is a requirement for private waste operators to segregate their waste; his plans to introduce mandatory waste segregation; his views on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24533/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The greater the degree of separation of different categories of waste by consumers and businesses, the easier it will be to reduce the proportion of our waste disposed of in landfill and to create the conditions for investment in much needed recovery and recycling infrastructure. Waste presentation is largely determined by permit conditions and local bye-laws. The Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007 provide that a permitted waste collector must source-segregate, treat or recover a specified proportion of waste collected, or class or classes of such waste, in such manner as may be specified by the relevant local authority. In 2008, my Department instructed local authorities to provide, as a matter of urgency, for the implementation of source-segregated collection for organic waste in urban areas.

The Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009 require the segregation and recovery of food waste arising in the commercial sector. A Regulatory Impact Assessment is currently underway in relation to the placing of an obligation on waste collectors to provide or arrange for the separate collection of household food waste and its diversion from disposal to recovery and recycling. The increases to the landfill levy which became effective earlier this month are intended to provide an economic mechanism to encourage the segregation of waste.

Performance has undoubtedly improved in recent years. The National Waste Report 2009 states that in 2009 a 2-bin service was provided to 72% of serviced households and a 3-bin service was provided to a further 24% of serviced households. However, notwithstanding the legal and policy framework, our improved performance and the likely impact of recent and anticipated changes, as a society we must do better.

The Programme for Government commits to the development of a coherent national waste policy, adhering to the waste hierarchy, which will aim to minimise waste disposal in landfill and maximise recovery. I am prioritising this commitment. A public consultation in relation to the new national waste policy is under way; a discussion document has been published on my Department's website to help inform consideration. The discussion document sets out a range of possible policy initiatives and issues for wider consideration, including in relation to the mandatory segregation of waste, and presents a real opportunity for interested parties to contribute to shaping a new national waste policy. The consultation period closes on Friday 30 September.