Council to introduce refuse and dry recyclables price hike

HOUSEHOLDERS in Waterford are to be asked to endure yet another refuse charge hike.

The price increases for refuse and dry recyclables were heralded by the council this week, two months ahead of the December budget when such increases are typically announced.

Under the new regime announced by council manager, Ray O’Dwyer, the cost per lift for the organic, brown bin is dipping by 50 cent to e7. But from next year, the cost per bin lift goes from e13 to e14 and the fee per bag for dry recyclables goes up 25c to e2.50.

The e150 flat fee introduced to cover the cost of dealing with old landfills in the region won’t change.

It had been feared that hikes would be much greater.

Fianna Fáil councillor, Kieran O’Ryan, says the issue of setting waste charges has now been effectively taken away from elected members and assumed by council staff. “It looks as if an increase can be imposed on us at any time of the year without councillors having any say, whatsoever.”

But Fine Gael’s Nora Flynn defended the service and the job of setting the annual levy. “The minister decided that the manager’s function was to set the waste charges. It was taken from us.

“It was taken because the council did not have the courage to do it – no more than we have the courage to do a lot of things sometimes. I thank the manager for waiving the fee for non-contributory pensioners living alone,” she said.

And fellow party member, Paudie Coffey, commended those behind the service. “Sometimes charge increases are hard to swallow. But if I had a choice of having a quality service that has never let anyone down and a private service, I know where I would go. I’d rather have the service we have.”

There are no plans to introduce a pay by weight system in Waterford, as has happened elsewhere, it also emerged. The system would only lead to more paperwork, according to Denis McCarthy, the director of services.

“We would have to issue invoices for arrears for all householders who use the service and we would have to keep checking these on an ongoing basis.

“The pay by use system has no administration as such and people pay as they use the system,” he said.