Council could take case after waste claims

A PRIVATE refuse company could face legal action by reportedly claiming Cork County Council was terminating its waste collection business.

Assistant county manager Tim Lucey told the Irish Examiner that he had sent details of the allegations to the council’s legal department and added the local authority had no intention of giving up its waste collection service.

At a council meeting in Mallow yesterday, Labour councillor Jerry Mullally asked officials if there was any truth in claims that the local authority was axing the service. Mr Lucey said he was aware of a recent drive by a private company to win over people who were serviced by the local authority.

“One private operator was saying that the council was discontinuing its service. That is not that case,” he said.

Among those canvassed by the private operator were council staff, who then told their management about the bogus claim. “This is disturbing to hear,” Mr Lucey said. He asked councillors to ensure anybody who queried the future of the council’s service were told it was not discontinuing.