International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

institutionalised unless matters are handled with considerable sensitivity, and unless
appropriate constraints are in place. This has been recognised by DoEHLG in its
Consultation Paper on the Regulation of the Waste Sector: 94
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‘The private waste sector has highlighted the following main areas of concern
to the industry:
(a) Unlike their private sector counterparts, local authorities are not
required to obtain collection permits in order to engage in the
commercial collection of waste.
(b) Local authorities are required to undergo a less onerous
registration process for certain waste activities, whereas their
private sector counterparts are required to obtain waste permits
for the same activities. Permitting is also more costly for the
private sector.
(c) The planning system operates differently for private sector and
public sector projects. It takes longer to obtain planning
permission for private sector projects than it does to obtain
permission for local authority projects. In addition, while local
authorities can obtain registration for their projects within a
short timescale, the permitting of private sector projects can be
subject to delays. Disparities in planning and permitting
timescales may give local authorities an advantage over private
waste companies in setting up their own waste facilities. The
Strategic Infrastructure Bill seeks to address this issue.
(d) The Environment Fund comprises monies raised through both
the plastic bag levy and the landfill levy. The landfill levy is
charged at €15 per tonne based on every tonne of waste which
goes to landfill. Local authority waste infrastructure projects are
part funded by the Environment Fund, however no funding is
available for private sector waste projects despite the
contribution that private sector waste companies make towards
the landfill levy and ultimately the Environment Fund.
(e) Local authorities and the private sector are both competing in
the same market therefore it would be expected that they would
operate under the same market conditions.’
In addition, local authorities do not have to charge value-added tax (VAT) on the
provision of waste services whereas private companies are required to do so. The
OECD notes that local authorities have also been allowed to build landfill above the
capacity set out in the regional waste management plans. It does, however, also note
94 DoEHLG (2006) Regulation of the Waste Management Sector: Consultation Paper,
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Waste/WasteManagement/FileDownLoad,1446,
en.pdf