Councillors fear refuse service may be privatised

WATERFORD County Council has proposed a private meeting next week to discuss waste disposal, sparking fears that part of the service is to be privatised.

Debate at Monday’s scheduled meeting is set to focus on waste and particular problems encountered with the brown or composting bin service.

Some councillors fear that proposals to privatise the service will only shift the responsibility for record service charge hikes proposed next year out of the hands of the local authority to a private company. Sinn Féin’s Brendan Mansfield says he may have to protest outside the in-camera meeting if that is what is proposed.