TD urges waste companies to keep costs competitive

“The new charging model for waste collection will help to protect our environment by encouraging people to reduce waste, recycle and compost. In response to some political scaremongering, particularly from Sinn Féin, I wish to reassure people that mandatory charging by weight is not in fact being introduced.

“Rather the new system, which is being phased in as customers renew their contracts or begin a new contract with another company, will give people control over the amount they pay, by encouraging them to recycle.  

“It gives waste collectors the flexibility to continue to offer, or to introduce, a range of incentivised pricing options, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. People can choose the company that best suits their circumstances and allows them to keep their waste costs down.

“The charging model is flexible and options include elements or combinations of standing charges, and per-lift, per-kilogramme, weight-bands, and weight allowances. About half of households are already on these types of offerings so the general public will be familiar with these options.

“I encourage people to recycle as much as possible which will ensure that they keep their bin charges to a minimum and will also be good for the environment. I also urge the service providers to keep their costs competitive and ensure that people are incentivised to reduce their waste and recycle.

“We must also inform and encourage people with food/organic brown bins to compost their food waste. I am pleased to hear all waste collectors will be required to begin roll-out of brown bins to all communities nationwide with a population greater than 500 people. This will really help people to cut down on the amount of waste they put in their black bins.

“As with any change like this it’s important we protect vulnerable people and ensure the new system does not have unintended consequences. As a result, an annual support of €75 will be introduced for persons with lifelong or long-term medical incontinence. This will help people meet the average annual cost of disposal of incontinence products for example. This is only right and fair.

“The reality is we can no longer have a system of flat fees. Already half the country has moved away from that model because it was simply not sustainable. With a flat fee there is no incentive whatsoever for people to reduce the amount of waste they put in their black bin considering we are running out of landfill space in the State the old way is simply not sustainable. With this new system people will be actively encouraged to reduce waste, recycle or compost their organic and food waste. There will be public information campaign on the new system and I encourage people to educate themselves about how best to cut down on waste and reduce their costs.”