Landfill costs force export of waste, say refuse firms
Private contractors yesterday warned of significant increases in waste disposal charges for their business and residential customers.
Sky-high landfill levies for privately-run firms increased, in some cases, 16-fold in the last 15 years, it was claimed.
Within the past three years, the average cost of landfill disposal increased from €27 per tonne to €100 per tonne making it the highest in Europe.
An umbrella body, the Irish Waste Management Association, yesterday blamed undemocratic practices of some local authorities for the planned hike in customer charges.
Private firms are faced with both local authority and central Government levies at landfill entry point. However, the association said local authorities were subsidising their own waste collection services by not applying the levies.
"This anti-competitive practice puts the customers of private contractors at a severe disadvantage," said the association's chairman Jim Kells.
Kilkenny City Council, it emerged, is to increase its waste disposal charges by 48% from €105 per tonne to €170 with other local authorities expected to follow suit.
Mr Kells said it was cheaper to send baled waste to Germany for recycling than dispose of it in Irish landfill sites.
He accused local authorities of driving up the cost of waste disposal.
A lack of alternative infrastructure to local authority landfill sites had led to local authorities controlling waste management costs, Mr Kells said.
Waste disposal is at a premium due to diminishing landfill capacity brought about, primarily, by new EU regulations which require licensing of sites by the Environmental Protection Agency.
There are not enough landfill sites to cope with Irish domestic and commercial waste.
"In effect, Ireland is not able to manage its own waste," said Mr Kells. "In order to keep costs down, we are faced with the ridiculous situation of having to export waste out of the country because there are no alternative amenities in place.
"This untenable situation will prevail unless private sector investment in alternative facilities is facilitated," he said.
The private sector, he said, remained concerned that the full costs of waste disposal was not reflected in the charges sought by local authorities still involved in waste collection in counties such as Mayo, Kildare, Westmeath, Waterford, South Tipperary, Wexford, Cork and Dublin.
"They appear to be subsidising their own customers' costs to the disadvantage of customers serviced by the private sector," Mr Kells said.
"We're seeking a level playing field. Most of our members are struggling to survive."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
