I raise recycling and bin collections. The deposit return scheme has come in and the good people of the State are, by and large, doing the right thing with plastic bottles and cans. I support the scheme and use it but because less stuff is going into recycling bins, the private companies that collect waste are now charging us for that. We are charged for the levy on plastic bottles and cans, which is fine, but because of the reduction in the volume in the recycling bin, companies are now charging more. The privatisation of waste collection has caused a lot of these problems. In my locality, four separate trucks collect waste, three on the same morning.

Time is up, Deputy.

It has gone out of control. The Government needs to take back control with a franchise or some other model with local authorities. Other EU states are doing it. Will the Government look at this issue again? The scheme is good but these are the unintended consequences.

Would you like to go on a bit longer?

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his indulgence.

I thank the Deputy for acknowledging that this is a good scheme. It has been successful. Irish Business Against Litter reported that it has resulted in a reduction of one third of the bottle and can litter around the country, which will continue. The Deputy said it has resulted in an increase in waste collection prices. That is not actually true. On Monday, the Irish Independent reported it had heard from some anonymous waste collection companies that they intended to put up prices as a result. I do not think that will happen.

I have noticed it.

The Department is in negotiations with the Irish Waste Management Association to make sure the system of subsidies and levies in place is such that there will be no effect on the cost of waste collection. I do not want the price of waste collection to go up at all. I am glad the Deputy acknowledged that the deposit return scheme is working well.

Will the Government stop them? The company I use is putting the price up.