Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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213. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps that he is taking to ensure that all commercial waste companies offer customers compost bins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27195/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022 aims to support Ireland’s transition to a circular economy by providing the necessary legislative basis for several key actions in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE). The Bill provides for a mandatory segregation and incentivised charging regime for commercial waste, similar to what exists for the household market, to ensure waste minimisation and proper segregation in the sector.

EPA statistics indicate that 70% of the material placed in commercial general waste bin should be in recycling or organic bins. 

At present, it is possible for commercial premises to dispose of their waste through a single, unsegregated bin.  This will no longer be possible under the changes being introduced by the bill, forcing premises to manage their waste in a properly segregated manner. Addressing this will help us to attain our EU targets for recycling and landfill.

The Bill is currently before the Oireachtas and it is intended that it will be enacted before the Summer recess.

My officials will introduce the required secondary legislation to give effect to these measures as soon as possible after the Bill is enacted and will then work with the NWCPO to ensure that all waste collection permits are amended to reflect these new obligations.