Sale of BNM Recycling to KWD gets green light from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission 

Munster-based waste services firm looks to buy Ireland's last publicly owned domestic waste collection service

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has cleared the proposed sale of Ireland's last publicly owned domestic waste collection service, Bord na Móna Recycling,  to Munster company KWD. 

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has cleared the proposed sale of Ireland's last publicly owned domestic waste collection service, Bord na Móna Recycling,  to Munster company KWD. 

BNM Recycling operates services in Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Offaly, Meath, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow.  KWD operates waste and recycling services in Kerry, Cork and Limerick.

The CCPC investigation looked at how any proposed deal would affect levels of competition between providers of waste collection services in parts of Leinster and Munster. To address the CCPC’s concerns, KWD agreed to divest a certain number of domestic and ‘commercial & industrial’ customers   to another waste collection provider, to be approved by the CCPC. 

"The commitments given by KAES Recycling (part of the KWD Group) also include obligations that will ensure that transferring customers will be supported throughout the process and that they will be fully informed of their rights and options," a CCPC statements said.

"Notwithstanding this merger decision, the CCPC continues to be of the view that the household waste collection market in Ireland is not delivering strong outcomes for consumers. It continues to be the CCPC’s view that structural changes are required in this market and that an economic regulator for household waste collection should be established."

Earlier this month, planned strike action by Siptu members at BNM Recycling was deferred following acceptance by management that their conditions of employment must be protected in any proposed sale of the company.