Dublin councillors vote for reversal of waste policy

Dublin city management has been asked by councillors to reverse its policy on not collecting refuse from householders who do not pay waste charges.

Councillors voted by nine to eight last night to support a motion from Joan Collins (Ind), stating that the council would operate a policy of collecting all domestic refuse "in order to protect public health in the city".

Only 19 of the 52 councillors were present for the vote. Deputy Lord Mayor Andrew Montague (Lab), who as chair held the casting vote, abstained.

The motion clashes with city management's "zero tolerance" policy on householders who will not pay for waste collections. Since the start of the year, the council has refused to collect rubbish where householders have not attached a pre-paid tag.

However a number of councillors claim the policy is causing a public health hazard. Eric Byrne (Lab) said: "There is an obligation on the city under public health legislation to protect the health of the city." However he did not want to encourage illegal dumping.

Paschal Donohoe (FG) opposed the motion, saying it was political rather than in the interest of public health.