Opposition looks for cap on bin charges as Coveney prepares to meet waste companies

The Housing and Local Government Minister Simon Coveney will meet waste collection companies this evening as opposition mounts to a new bin charging regime.

There was uproar in the Dáil in recent days as the companies told households their standing charges could go up by as much as 200%.

Last night Government backbenchers and opposition TDs spoke out against the new regime and said it should be suspended if necessary.

Minister Coveney said he would take action as soon as next week if necessary.

"If that means looking at new regulations that we would introduce next week, so be it," he said.

"If it means looking at interventions in terms of regulation or management around charges for a period of time to ensure we adopt a new regime that households agree make sense for the environment and for themselves in terms of bills - well then, that's what were going to do."

Meanwhile, the Dáil will debate an AAA-PBP motion calling for an immediate Ministerial order to prevent private waste companies from increasing charges.

People Before Profit TD for Dublin South Central, Brid Smith (pictured), said a statutory cap is urgently required.

"These companies are pushing this everywhere. We're using our powers at Members' Time next week to put a bill to say there has to be a statutory instrument that cap these standing charges at no more than the price rate of inflation," she said.