The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, T.D., today (27 June 2017) confirmed that a more flexible framework for waste collection charges has been approved by Government.
The Minister stated "Allowing for a range of charging options, which most consumers are already familiar with, will encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste while choosing the service-price offering that best suits their circumstances and allows them manage their costs. Therefore, I have decided not to impose a compulsory 'one size fits all' per-kilogramme charging system on waste collectors."
The amount of waste sent to landfill has increased in the last two years. In 2016, there was insufficient capacity to dispose of residual waste and emergency powers were invoked by the regulatory authorities to make additional landfill capacity available. It is important to act now to encourage waste reduction to avert a return to an over-dependence on landfill. An incentivised pricing structure for household waste collection is an important measure in this regard.
Under the new arrangement, waste collectors will be given the flexibility to continue to offer, or to introduce, a range of incentivised pricing options to their customers. These options include elements or combinations of standing charges, and per-lift, per-kilogramme, weight-bands, and weight allowance charges.
A "one size fits all" mandatory, nationwide per-kilogramme charging system will not be implemented.
However, 'all-in flat rate' charging for household waste will start to be phased out as customers renew or enter new service contracts.
All waste collectors will be required to start rolling-out food/organic "brown" bins to all localities nationwide with a population greater than 500 people. This will help more households divert waste away from their standard black bins. Further consideration will be given to extending 'brown' bin coverage in phases to smaller localities.
An annual support of €75 will be introduced for persons with lifelong/long-term medical incontinence. This support will help people meet the average annual cost of disposal of incontinence products. The details and arrangements of this support will be finalised later this year, after further consultation with the stakeholder groups.
In support of the new arrangements, the three Regional Waste Management Planning Offices will implement an information and awareness campaign in the third quarter of the year.
Ends
WASTE PREVENTION
Approximately 62% of waste in County Westmeath goes to landfill. This is not sustainable or acceptable and we must achieve a situation where sending waste to landfill is OUR LAST OPTION.
Prevention, Reduction, Reuse and Recycling is the preferred options in managing household waste to reduce the amount of waste that is produced in the first place.
Attached is a list of items that can be put into your Brown Bin to help reduce waste
Prevention is the best method of reducing waste - if we don't buy it we don't have to dispose of it. In Ireland, the average family spends €400- €1,000 on food that ends up being thrown in the bin. If we know what we waste, plan meals, prepare a shopping list and store and serve the food properly we maximise the nutritional and monetary value from our food. Try taking the "Stop Food Waste" Challenge to reduce your food waste by 1/4 - www.stopfoodwaste.ie.
Here are some tasty recipes to tempt you on your way:
Recipe Booklet - Family Favourites (1,217kB)
The average household produces 1.5 tonnes of waste a year. We can reduce this amount by prevention, minimisation, reuse and recycling
The following are ways to reduce waste:
One third of the food we buy is thrown away. Savings of up to €1000 each year could be made by reducing the food we throw away. For tips on reducing food waste see - www.stopfoodwaste.ie
Click here Your Freezer - Friend or Foe (228kB)
Green Christmas tips from Eastern Midlands Waste Region
Christmas Recipe Booklet - 12 days of Christmas