Combat Poverty calls for waste-charge waivers

The Combat Poverty Agency has called for a fair and consistent system of waste charging in Ireland.

In a report published today, the agency calls for a national policy on waste management waiver systems and recommends guidelines that might be used to structure waste charging systems more fairly.

According to the report, changes to waste charging practices in recent years have had a knock-on effect on the waste collection levies being placed on households, with charges rising by 223 per cent between 1997 and 2003.

The guidelines include recommendations for phased payment, anonymity for waiver recipients and the introduction of an income-based approach that takes account of household income and household size.

"The situation that has arisen in relation to waste charges reinforces the need for poverty proofing of all policies at both design and implementation stage to ensure there are no unintended consequences for low-income households", said Helen Johnston, director of the Combat Poverty Agency.

"Consistent principles for waste management are needed. This report sets out to address this deficit."

Although promoting the guidelines to achieve consistency across local authority areas in the short term, the report calls for the introduction of a universal waiver model that would satisfy the guidelines at a national level.