Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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118. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to change the way waste is collected in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40995/24]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Notwithstanding the significant progress made in improving Ireland’s waste performance over recent years, the targets we face at EU level are challenging, including targets for municipal waste recycling in 2025. In that context, I now asked my officials to commission a comprehensive study to explore the feasibility, potential benefits and risks associated with transitioning our waste collection system from its current competitive licensing system to a franchise tendering system for local authority areas or regions.

Such a system, where exclusive contracts are awarded to waste collectors in specified areas, is generally used in other EU member states and could have the potential to streamline operations, enhance recycling efforts, and improve overall waste management efficiency. On the other hand, a transition away from our current system could cause significant disruption to existing services if not managed carefully. The proposed study will therefore assess the economic, social, environmental, and regulatory implications of such a transition and, as appropriate, offer recommendations for implementation.