Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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205. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures being taken by his Department to ensure that waste collection companies are abiding by correct procedure, following his agreement with the waste industry which provides for a price freeze and the introduction of pay-by-weight charges on a phased basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23137/16]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an update on the level of information provided by private waste collection companies to residential customers regarding the new pay-by-weight scheme; the number of meetings his Department has held with the industry since the 1 July freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23295/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 222 together.

In an open market, it is a matter for a waste collector to set charges at the level they consider to be competitive, in compliance with the requirements of environmental and other applicable legislation. However, since the waste industry began releasing its proposed prices under pay-by-weight last month, the Government relayed its concern to the industry regarding the reported escalation of waste bills for customers of certain companies.

On foot of this, I actively engaged with representatives of the waste industry to agree a way forward that results in customers paying no more than they are currently paying for waste over the next 12 months. The approach agreed with the industry is by way of a price freeze to end-June 2017. The operation of the price freeze by the industry will be closely monitored by Government and, in the event of evidence being presented of the agreement being breached, legislative options will be considered to address the issue. In this regard, my Department has held three meetings with representatives of the waste industry since 1 July 2016 and will continue to liaise with operators as necessary with regard to the consistent implementation of the agreement.

Legislation has been introduced to remove mandatory pay-by-weight charging for household waste collection. However, it is still open to a company to charge on a pay-by-weight basis, albeit in the context of the aforementioned price freeze. Indeed, many companies already have a pay-by-weight element to their charging structure and their customers are quite happy with this approach. In this regard, it is intended to roll out a comprehensive education and awareness programme on pay by weight so that more householders can make an informed decision around their pricing plan. However, as I have already indicated, the Government will review the operation of pay-by-weight and make decisions regarding its further roll-out, regulation and oversight by July 2017.