Councillor calls for halt to ban on bin bags
The policy to phase-out homeowners’ use of plastic domestic waste bags should be binned, a city councillor has recommended.
From July 1, plastic bin bags used by city dwellers to dispose of refuse will only be permitted in “exceptional circumstances”.
Refuse and recycling bags used by private bin companies such as City Bin are being phased-out and from next month waste will only be collected from wheelie bins.
Retailers have been put on notice that individual bin bags will no longer be on sale.
The policy is national and is being implemented locally by Galway City Council.
The local authority said bags will only be permitted to be used by households who meet certain criteria. Exceptions will be allowed but must be applied for.
The exceptions include that the properties are too small to store wheelie bins and the street outside the property is too narrow for wheelie bins.
Labour Party councillor Niall McNelis said the policy was poorly thought-out and should be re-visited.
“The first thing to say is that it was the retailers who informed me about this, not the Council and the lack of consultation on it is very disappointing,” he said.
Cllr McNelis said the ban on bin bags will drive people out of the city centre, and it will also encourage more fly-tipping.
“We’re trying to encourage people to live in the city centre but how is this going to help. People living in city centre apartments don’t have room for wheelie bins; and if you are on a first floor apartment, how are you going to drag the wheelie bin downstairs and get it upstairs again?
“Illegal dumping is already a problem and this will only encourage it. What could happen is people will use the public bins in the city to dispose of their household waste, and that will end up costing the Council more because they will have to be emptied more often,” said Cllr McNelis.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh called for the proposed new bin tax to be scrapped.
Speaking in the Seanad he said: “One of the final acts of Labour and Alan Kelly in Government was to allow private companies to hike the cost of refuse collection. These new charges are to be imposed from the beginning of July. Even though he promised that there would be a reduction in costs for 83% of households what we are actually seeing are massive increases – in some cases well over 200% of the charge they currently pay.
“In Galway we are seeing a standing charge of over €224 being imposed on some homes, before any bin is lifted. The same company is apparently only charging the good people of Leitrim an €80 standing charge for the same service. The pay by weight costs are being piled on top of this.
“This is an extra tax which will hit families who are already at the pin of their collar with water charges, property tax and other stealth taxes.
“I have called on the Minister to suspend these charges and come in to the parliament to debate how we can really help people to reduce the amount of refuse they generate and put a fair, efficient and equitable system in place for refuse collection.”