Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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373. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will reverse the proposal that the provision of a green, black and brown bin is to be restricted to areas with a population density of greater than 500 in view of the fact that it is discriminating against rural dwellers that wish to recycle and manage the cost of their waste disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33419/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Household kerbside waste collectors are required by a condition in their waste collection permit to provide a separate receptacle for each waste fraction namely, residual, recyclables and where appropriate, food and bio-waste.

In line with the objectives of the national waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, in terms of maximising the resource potential and minimising the disposal of our waste, the European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2015 are designed to promote the segregation and recovery of household food waste. The Regulations impose obligations on both waste collectors and householders.

Under articles 4 and 5 of the Regulations, household waste collectors are required to provide, or arrange for the provision of, a separate collection service for food waste from households for population agglomerations greater than 500 persons.  This started out as agglomerations of greater than 25,000 persons and has been reduced on a phased basis.

A food waste collection service is now being provided in every county across all local authority areas. The provision of this service to more remote areas with agglomerations less than 500 persons, where it is technically and environmentally practical to do so, continues to be monitored by my Department, together with the regulatory authorities.