New bin charging pay by weight system will undergo accuracy test

The official standards body will be checking the accuracy of bin weights when new pay by weight rules for household waste come into effect on July 1.

The payment change will affect 1.2m households and tens of thousands of businesses across the country.

The National Standard Authority of Ireland has been tasked with checking the accuracy of bin weights to ensure quantities charged for are correct.

Under the new regime, waste companies will no longer be allowed to charge an annual flat fee, or pay per collection fee, to customers. Instead, waste bills will be calculated by weight. Minimum rates will apply for brown bins, at 6c per kg and for black bins, at 11c per kg.

This week Housing Minister Simon Coveney announced that the mandatory charge for green bins had been dropped.

Mr Coveney said companies would have maximum flexibility to charge for green bins, if they wanted, or to absorb that cost in another part of their pricing structure.

Simon Coveney

Bin companies can also charge a service fee that covers staff, collection, administration, back office, capital, and overhead costs.

Around one in five households have a regular waste collection service that operates on a pay by weight basis, with the remainder on a flat rate — pay per lift or tag.

There are around 750 bin trucks throughout the country and NSAI’s inspectors will check that all of them are weighing refuse accurately.

NSAI’s head of legal metrology, Paul Turner, said there would be regular nationwide inspections of all bin weighing equipment.

He said all waste weighing systems used for collecting waste must comply with the requirements of the Metrology Act 1996. “If a bin company tampers with their weighing equipment, it will be prosecuted,” he warned.

It is hoped the new payment system will increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

NSAI’s pledge to help consumers and businesses have confidence in their weight was made yesterday — World Metrology Day.

Metrology is the science of measurement and metrology day is an annual celebration in more than 80 countries of the impact of measurement on people’s daily lives.

The date was chosen in recognition of the signing of the Metre Convention on May 20, 1875, the beginning of formal international collaboration in metrology to ensure worldwide uniformity of measurement.

Legal metrology inspectors ensure trade measuring instruments are accurate so consumers are not short-changed and businesses do not lose income.