Bin charge freeze could be extended longer than a year

Housing Minister Simon Coveney says pay-by-weight charges may be frozen longer than the 12-month period agreed with the refuse industry yesterday.

The freeze will be extended should they fail to ensure bills for homeowners remain at current levels or if he feels “people are not ready” for the new system.

Mr Coveney was speaking as Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil that Environment Minister Denis Naughten would now be dealing with the issue and would be looking into the way waste companies operate. “It is valid to look at the structure and the way the management of waste is dealt with. This issue needs to be looked after,” he said.

Mr Kenny admitted that “this controversy has blown up quite recently, following the statutory instrument introduced by the former minister, Deputy Alan Kelly”.

He said pay-by-weight would encourage people to make better use of their brown and green bins, thus reducing their charges and easing pressure on landfill.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said “mayhem” within the industry has caused “anger and anxiety among householders”.

“There have been claims and counter-claims but, essentially, bills in quite a number of instances have gone through the roof. It highlights in many ways the complete lack of transparency in relation to bin charges generally. Quite a number of companies are not transparent at all in terms of their charging regime,” said Mr Kenny

He questioned whether the Government could guarantee that householders will not have increased bills over the next 12 months and asked Mr Kenny to initiate a comprehensive review of the current waste collection and management in the recycling system and industry.

AAA-PBP Gino Kenny read a letter he said he received from a constituent who looks after a relative with special needs and has incontinence issues. He said that under the new system, this person would see their bill increase from €204 per year to €304.

Mr Kenny said Mr Coveney had received a commitment from the waste industry to provide a full weight allowance for the 60,000 HSE patients supplied with incontinence wear to reduce their waste charges. He said the Government will also provide a provision of a 50% exemption to the waste industry from the landfill levy in respect of such waste — about €3m a year.

The Government is to submit a counter motion in the Dáil to the AAA-PBP motion which seeks to cancel the regime change for charges.

Fianna Fáil confirmed last night it is satisfied with the deal arrived at by Mr Coveney and that its members will vote with the Government, which will see the opposition motion defeated.