Councillor raises refuse bin accident liability fears

HOUSEHOLDERS, forced to deposit refuse bins at designated collection points in rural areas, could face public liability claims in the event of any accident — even if a third party subsequently moved the receptacle onto the road.

Cork County Council officials have agreed to investigate the claim which was made yesterday at a northern division meeting by Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe.

The Fianna Fáil councillor said he was extremely worried that householders, through no fault of their own, could be liable for accidents.

Hundreds of people throughout the county have to take their bins to pick-up points because some of the council’s trucks are not capable to negotiating narrow country roads.

“If a car was to hit one of these bins — which was moved onto the road by a third party — would the householder be responsible?” Cllr O’Keeffe asked.

He said that, in some cases, householders had to take bins up to half a mile to designated collection points.

As such, they would be out of view of their homes and they wouldn’t know if they had been interfered with.

At the meeting in Mallow, council officials said their own staff were given safety guidelines to ensure that after emptying the bins they were put in a safe place.

However, they were unable to say for certain if householders would be responsible in the case of accident. They promised to investigate the situation and report back to public representatives.

Meanwhile, the council has announced a 250% rise in charges for collection of household items, such as beds, fridges, freezers and other appliances.

Each year, the northern division makes its council yards available for the disposal of such goods.

In 2007, it charged €20 for a standard car trailer-load of items but, this year, the charge is €50.

Council officials said the increase was needed and the local authority would be lucky to break even.

Such household items can be disposed of at council yards in Charleville, Fermoy and Mitchelstown on Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26. The €50 charge must be paid in advance at council offices.