Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of areas for which the separate collection of organics is currently not a required waste permit condition; and the number of households this affects. [18108/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2015, household waste collectors are required to provide, or arrange for the provision of a separate collection service for food waste from households in designated brown bin areas. In accordance with the Regulatory Impact Assessment prepared for these Regulations, the roll-out of the brown bin has been phased in on a progressive basis, commencing on 1st July 2013. The timetable for when the Regulations take effect is as follows:

-1st July 2013 , for population centres greater than 25,000 persons;

- 31st December 2013 , for population centres greater than 20,000 persons;

- 1st July 2014 , for population centres greater than 10,000 persons;

- 1st July 2015 , for population centres greater than 1,500 persons, and

- 1st July 2016 , for population centres greater than 500 persons.

By July of this year, brown bins will have been rolled out to most towns and villages across the country. Notwithstanding this fact, where it is technically and environmentally practical to do so, it is intended to introduce, in the coming months, the measures required to ensure a brown bin service is available to all householders wishing to avail of one, regardless of the size of the communities in which they live within the coming months.