Waste management firms meet over plan to freeze charges

The Government is facing a potentially serious defeat in the Oireachtas unless it can resolve the controversy over waste charges in the next 24 hours.

The association representing private domestic waste management companies is meeting today to consider proposals put forward by Minister for Housing and Planning Simon Coveney at the weekend.

The proposal would in effect delay the introduction of a full pay-by-weight collection across the State from July 1st.

Instead, householders would have assurances they would pay no more than they currently pay, provided they did not produce more weight.

In addition, they would be given incentives to reduce the amount of refuse they produce. During the 12-month period, the Government would back an information campaign to ensure all households were fully aware of the changes.

The changes were approved by former minister for the environment Alan Kelly last January but the regulation is not due to come into effect until next month.

Despite the claim that 87 per cent of households would benefit, there has been anecdotal evidence some households would face a doubling of their domestic bin charges

Mr Coveney and Minister of State Seán Kyne met representatives of waste companies over the weekend to discuss the issue and suggest a temporary “stay” on a full transition to pay-by-weight.

Alternative arrangement

Depending on the response of the Irish

Waste Management Association

today, Mr Coveney will bring proposals to Cabinet tomorrow for an alternative arrangement that would ensure no hikes. He will have consulted Attorney General Máire Whelan before the meeting.

Two separate motions have been tabled by parties for the Dáil and Seanad this week. The AAA-PBP alliance will introduce a Private Members’ motion tomorrow calling for the change to be reversed.

Sinn Féin is bringing a similar motion before the Seanad on Wednesday.

The stance of Fianna Fáil on the issue will assume greater significance when it comes to the vote, as the Fine Gael-led minority Government will be relying on the party to support it, or abstain, so as to avoid defeats in both Houses.

There is a consensus emerging among waste companies, said a source, that households be given an option of retaining, for 12 months, their current scheme or convert to pay-by-weight.

However, the source said there were concerns that a substantial number of household that previously held waivers would continue to pay at rates the industry claims made it uneconomic for companies to collect their refuse.