Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Waste Management

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of contact he has had with the domestic waste industry regarding waivers being available for persons with health issues and who have to use incontinence products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38601/21]

Photo of Ossian SmythOssian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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My Department has engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representative organisations such as Family Carer’s Ireland, Age Action, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland and public bodies such as the National Disability Authority, the HSE, the Department of Health and the Department of Social Protection, in an effort to see how best to support persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear. Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Representatives from the waste industry were in positive discussions when a per kilogramme charging model was planned, however mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced and therefore their participation ended. A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017 to monitor the on-going cost of residential waste collection to homeowners across Ireland as the ‘flat-rate structure’ was being phased out. While fluctuations in prices and service offerings have been observed, the overall trend has been relative price stability. Results from the PMG are available on my Department's website.

In September 2020, Minister Ryan launched a new national waste policy for the period 2020-2025, A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy. This plan contains a range of measures to empower households through enhanced consumer protection requirements. It also envisages an enhanced monitoring of the market to ensure continued relative price stability.

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