Written answers

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Waste Management Regulations

Photo of John CurranJohn Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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456. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he will take to ensure that all licensed household waste collection companies display full and up to date price charging structures on their company websites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17496/18]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, it is not currently within my remit to oblige private companies to display their prices on websites.

However, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is currently conducting a study on the operation of the household waste collection market which it will complete in 2018 and I await any recommendations that report may contain.

In addition, I separately established a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group (PMG) last year to monitor the rates charged by household waste collectors during the phasing out of flat rate fees. The PMG has met each month since September 2017 and has considered seven months of pricing data trends.  The PMG has indicated that, in the vast majority of cases to date, prices have remained stable. The PMG noted in its latest statement (available at www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/news-and-media/press-releases/Pages/Statement-March-Findings-from-the-Household-Waste-Collection-Price-Monitoring-Group--Trend-shows-residential-waste-collecti.aspx) that situations arose during monitoring where office staff may have taken longer than expected to provide price details over the phone and in these scenarios, company websites were used to confirm prices. However, the PMG further noted that not all companies provide prices on their websites and that not all consumers will have internet access, or are comfortable with this mode of comparison.

To conclude, the results from the PMG in conjunction with the study being undertaken by the CCPC, will provide an evidence base for future policy decisions in relation to the household waste market.​

Photo of Shane CassellsShane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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457. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a ban on plastic straws will be introduced in favour of biodegradable straws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17501/18]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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On 16 January 2018 the Commission published its European Strategy for Plastics in the Circular Economy.  The strategy focuses on plastics production and use and sets a goal of ensuring all plastic packaging is recyclable by 2030.

Recently, I wrote to the European Commissioner with responsibility for the environment to welcome the plastics strategy. I assured him Ireland fully embraced the ambitions of the new strategy. I asked the Commission to focus, in particular, on the most difficult non-recyclable plastics such as soft wrapping, film and single use items such as coffee cups and plastic straws. I am determined to make sure these products, if they come onto the market here or elsewhere in Europe, will be recycled or biodegradable and that they will not go into landfill sites.

I am looking forward to the Commission proposing within the next month EU-wide actions to tackle single use plastic items.  I believe that working proactively with our European colleagues will achieve a greater environmental benefit.

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