Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will clarify the new guidelines for recycling household waste; if private waste collection firms are compelled to implement the new guidelines; the way in which the new guidelines will ensure uniformity in terms of household recycling; if there are penalties for households that breach the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52111/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I recently announced, for the first time ever, a single, national standard list of items that can go into the recycle bin.

The list of suitable material is now simply paper, cardboard, rigid plastics, tins and cans. Details of the materials which can be now be placed in the mixed dry recycling bin collected at kerbside are available on

This national standard list of items will eliminate the confusion that currently exists around what goes into the recycle bin and the materials that should not. Up until this point, certain collectors accepted different materials in the mixed dry recycling bin, leading to some confusion for householders who were genuinely trying to do the right thing. Removing doubt and confusion will play a huge role in improving the quality of the material that goes in the recycle bin and will also help to ensure that these items are actually recycled, as opposed to being contaminated accidentally by householders and sent to thermal recovery or landfill.

The list was developed in conjunction with the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, Repak and the waste management sector. The acceptable material largely reflects the list of Recyclable Household Waste Materials that a collector must accept as set out in the Seventh Schedule to the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, S.I. 820 of 2007, as amended.

The terms and conditions of service contracts between waste collectors and householders is a matter for both parties concerned, including with regard to the fees charged or penalties for breach of contract.