Number of bin charge waivers to be cut

THE NUMBER of social welfare-dependent households in Dublin that will qualify for a waiver on bin charges is expected to be cut following Dublin City Council’s decision to set income limits on claimants.

From next month social welfare recipients whose household income is in excess of €500 per week will no longer be entitled to a bin charge waiver, following a surge in applicants last year.

Since the introduction of waste collection charges 10 years ago, households whose total income was dependent on a pension or social welfare payment or households whose income was below the tax threshold were entitled to a waiver of the charge.

From 2010 the council changed the system so that waiver recipients would have to pay “per lift” but would not have to pay the annual standing charge of €96 for large general refuse “grey” bins or €78 for smaller grey bins, which is levied on all other householders.

The number of waiver recipients has remained relatively static since 2005 at around 38,000-39,000. However, last year the council saw a jump in claimants to more than 41,000.

Following an analysis of qualifying applicants, the council found that some waiver recipients had total household incomes of more than €1,000 per week. These households were generally those with five or more householders dependent on social welfare.

The council has decided to implement an income limit of €500 per week per household, which it said would still qualify a household of two pensioners. Of the 41,123 waiver households, more than half are pensioners.

Waiver application forms will be issued with next month’s waste charge bill. The council said it would not be in a position to determine how many people would be losing their waiver until the application forms were returned.