Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the protocol in place with the print media for the recycling of old newspapers; the arrangements in place for the storage of them; if he has any auditing arrangements to set up compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2768/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Government waste policy, in line with the internationally recognised waste hierarchy, is premised on the promotion of the sustainable use of natural resources and the reduction of negative environmental impacts. As an alternative to the imposition of statutory controls and obligations, the preferred approach is, in the first instance, to afford a relevant business sector an opportunity to formulate and implement proposals for an appropriate voluntary producer responsibility initiative.

In line with this policy my Department invited the Press industry to formulate a set of proposals for the voluntary management of the Irish newsprint supply chain. In response to this request the Green Press Partnership (GPP) was established in 2010, comprising key Irish press industry stakeholders. The main aim of the programme is to act as a platform for the environment initiatives specific to the requirements of newsprint waste.

To date this initiative has succeeded in introducing new reporting systems to measure performance and more efficiently manage the supply chain, also getting publishers to commit to using sustainable paper products in the production process. It has changed a long-established practice so that entire unsold newspapers and magazines are returned instead of being disposed of locally. In addition, two new sets of industry protocols – Environment Standards for the Press Industry and Code Of Practice for the Press Industry - have been agreed and published, both designed to ensure best environmental practice. The annual Newsprint Recycling Research conducted by GPP indicates that the recycling rate for newsprint has risen from 28% in 2002 to over 80% in 2010.

The GPP has also submitted further proposals which are currently being considered by my Department. These proposals cover four areas – policy, communication, efficiency and research – and include proposals on a carbon policy, green procurement policy, and an advertising space commitment to promote the culture of recycling. The Programme for Government makes a commitment to drive a waste reduction programme through the extension of Producer Responsibility initiatives and, in that context, my Department will shortly be conducting a review of all aspects of Producer Responsibility schemes. The results of this review will help determine whether the voluntary initiatives taken by the press industry to date are adequate or whether it would be more appropriate to require producers to take direct responsibility for the environmentally sound management of waste newsprint.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a national waiver scheme for waste management will be introduced. [2779/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which 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.

A public consultation designed to inform the policy development process concluded in September 2011. A large number of responses were received from a broad spectrum of interests. As one might expect, a consensus is not apparent and, on almost all of the relevant issues, a considerable breadth of opinion was expressed including in relation to the issue of waiver schemes. All of the responses received, in addition to a summary document, are available on my Department's website.

I expect to be in a position to submit final proposals in relation to household waste collection to Government early this year. All policy proposals will be carefully considered by Government and will take account of the full range of issues and perspectives. The issue of waivers for low income households will be among the issues for consideration in this context.