Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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183. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the charge for the collection of bins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14029/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Government waste policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in the EU’s Waste Framework Directive. A number of specific measures have been, and will continue to be, introduced to reduce the amount of waste generated in the State and to increase the segregation of waste which cannot be prevented in line with Government policy.  The introduction of pay-by-weight charges for the collection of household waste is one such measure.

The legislation requires that from 1 July, 2016 the collector will charge for each kilogramme of waste collected. The Government has set a minimummandatory fee per kilogramme for the different types of household waste: 11c for black bin (residual waste), 6c for brown bin (food/organic waste) and I have decided that a zero cent minimumfee per kilogramme should be set for green bins (recyclate). The collector may also charge a service fee, which may typically cover staff, collection, administrative and back office, capital and overhead costs.

Under the current arrangements, customers pay in a variety of ways including flat fees, pay per lift, pay per tag and banded weighing systems. As is now the case, from 1 July 2016, it will be a matter for the collector to set charges at the level they consider to be competitive, including whether they wish to charge separately for the collection of recyclate, in compliance with the requirements of the legislation.