Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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My Department published a consultation document on the regulation of household waste collection on 28 November 2013 to guide the development of a new regulatory regime to strengthen and improve the regulation of household waste collection. Over 90 submissions were received from across a wide spectrum, including the waste industry, public bodies, public representatives and the general public. Taking account of that consultation process and the submissions received, I intend to introduce legislation early next year, to come into effect in July 2015, to significantly reform the regulation of household waste collection, including the introduction of measures to require collectors to have a customer charter in place and to meet certain minimum standards of customer service (for example, specified frequencies of collection). It will also become a statutory requirement for all collectors to operate the “pay -by- weight” system as a condition of their permit.

Research shows that a ‘pay per weight’ (per kg) form of charging is a more effective pricing system in terms of influencing household behaviour than alternative flat rate charges or ‘pay per lift’ / ‘pay per throw’ systems. I consider the general application of pay by weight by all household waste collectors to be an important measure to support the management of waste in line with national waste policy, the waste hierarchy, the polluter pays principle and to incentivise waste reduction and segregation by householders, giving them more direct control of their waste management charges. It is envisaged that some level of standing charge may also be permitted to cover administrative costs, including the provision of bins.