Greens call for level playing field for waste contractors

Press Release: Dún Laoghaire 22 March 2007

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22 March 2007

Greens call for level playing field for waste contractors

The Green Party has called for a level playing field for waste collectors in Dún Laoghaire. It says that households using the Council’s own waste collection are picking up part of the bill for those who opt for the private contractor.

Dún Laoghaire TD and Green Party Environment spokesman Ciarán Cuffe stated:

“I’m all in favour of competition but it’s just not fair that those who use the Council’s own service are subsidising others. People who use the Council’s service are paying a standing charge of €80 per household per annum. This helps to pay for the network of bottle-banks and bring centres around the County. Meanwhile those who use the service provided by Panda aren’t contributing to the cost of providing the free bottle-banks around the County. They do pay a €64 annual charge, but this does not contribute towards the cost of the public bottle-banks.

“I’m also calling for the Council to improve the green bin service provided on their behalf by Oxigen. I want the Council to move quickly to modify the contract so that Oxigen collect plastics and moves to a fortnightly collection of green bins.

“The great danger in all of this is that private contractors will drive the County Council’s waste service out of business and then jack up their process. This is what happened in Co. Wicklow.

“We’re also asking the Council to drop the €5 charge for green waste at Ballyogan Recycling Centre. The €80 annual waste charge should be paying for this service, and this is what householders were led to believe when the new charges were introduced two years ago.

Local Green Party Cllr. Tom Kivlehan added:
“Panda users are getting a free ride on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown’s network of free bottle-banks around the County. I am asking the County Manager Own Keegan to examine the figures and see if a more equitable arrangement can be provided.

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com, or Text Ciaran on 087 265 2075.