Pay-by-weight waste fees plan delayed again

Plans to phase out flat-rate waste collection fees are delayed once again, and will not come into force until the autumn. However, the 12-month price-freeze agreed with the waste collection industry will expire as planned tomorrow.

It was understood that as of July 1 those on flat-rate contracts with their waste collection company would not be able to renew that deal, and instead would have to switch to a pay-by-weight or per-lift contract.

However, yesterday a Department of Environment spokesperson said this new framework is unlikely to be in place until September. The department said the new policy will have to be circulated by the National Waste Collection Permit Office to local authorities which regulate the service: “The National Waste Collection Permit Office will review the new circular in order to determine how the new policy is applied to the permit system. I would expect this process to be completed by end-July/early-August.