John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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569. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the introduction of the pay by weight system for refuse collection, both in Dublin and the remaining counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39409/16]

John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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570. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding households paying for recycling material per kg (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39410/16]

John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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571. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a commitment given at the time of the disputes regarding refuse collection earlier in 2016 by the refuse collection industry that no household would pay more in 2016 than in 2015 is binding; if so, the person or body the companies are answerable to if they are non compliant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39424/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 569 to 571, inclusive, together.

My Department is currently reviewing, together with the regulatory authorities and industry representatives, the introduction of an incentivised pricing system, such as pay by weight, for household waste collection. The review is due to be completed by July 2017.Incentivised pricing aims to encourage householders to prevent, reduce and segregate their waste and also facilitates the industry in providing householders with a range of options to manage their waste costs. Given that we are undertaking a broader review than was originally envisaged, there is no necessity for companies to now provide for ‘dual billing’ and ‘opt in/ opt out’ arrangements from January 2017 for the “pay per kilogramme” arrangement that had been envisaged in mid-2016. 

The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. However, the waste collection industry in general has indicated that it will not increase regular charges for the 12 months to 1 July 2017 for the same level of service.

In advance of the planned introduction of per kilogramme pay by weight charging last summer, it was indicated that there would be no mandatoryper kilogramme charge for mixed dry recyclate, effectively maintaining the status quo in terms of how collectors charge for this type of material.