Waste industry opposed to market changes

The Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) says it strongly opposes Government plans to restructure the waste collection market.

The current system - under which several companies provide services in a local authority area - could soon be replaced by a tender scheme to award the work to a single firm.

The IWMA says the move would result in higher costs for households and businesses, as well as putting jobs in the sector at risk.

IWMA Chairperson Jim Kells said the loss of 'side-by-side' competition would be a retrograde step.

"The proposed changes to the waste market are fundamentally flawed and will hit customers in their pockets with higher charges," Mr Kells said.

"We will have lower levels of customers service which will threaten jobs and will threaten decades of investment (in the industry)."