Written answers

Thursday, 13 July 2017

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Waste Disposal

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1029. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of residents excluded from having brown bins in each local area authority under Regulation 3(3)(b) of S.I. No. 191/2015; if his Department has plans to amend this statutory provision to ensure all residents have access to brown bins; and if not, if his Department have plans to provide alternative composting options to these residents. [34818/17]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-Waste) Regulations 2015, S.I. No. 191 of 2015 were revoked and replaced by The European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-Waste) Regulations 2015, S.I. No. 430 of 2015. The regional waste management plans have not utilised the provisions of article 3(3)(b) of the food waste Regulations and as such, no households have been excluded from the requirement on waste collectors to provide a separate food waste collection service in this regard. 

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 household food waste Regulations are designed to promote the segregation and recovery of household food waste.

The Regulations impose obligations on both householders and waste collectors. 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. Householders are obliged to segregate their food waste, and make it available for separate collections. Alternatively householders may compost the food waste at home or bring it themselves to authorised treatment facilities such as civic amenity facilities or anaerobic digestion sites.

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.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.