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FLAT FEE BIN charges are to be scrapped, with the government shaking up the waste charging regime.
The pay-by-weight scheme, which was due to come into place from 1 January, was delayed in the eleventh hour last December amid controversy around bin companies abusing the system.
Some consumers complained they were being hit with 200% increases in their bills.
The debacle resulted in Minister Simon Coveney (who was responsible for the waste collection industry at the time) putting a freeze on bin charges for a period of 12 months.
In December, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten announced there would be a delay in the pay-by-weight scheme as discussions between government officials and the waste industry were ongoing.
Today, Naughten has announced plans for his new scheme which will see the “one-size-fits-all” mandatory, nationwide per-kilogramme charging system scrapped.
He told the Dáil the old scheme was unfair and penalised those that recycled.
Phased out
The ‘all-in flat rate’ charging for household waste will start to be phased out as customers renew or enter new service contracts. So if your contract is up in August, the new scheme will kick in for you at that time.
Instead, the minister said the customer will be able to control their own bin charges through a number of options.
Under the new arrangement, waste collectors will be given the flexibility to continue to offer, or to introduce, a range of incentivised pricing options to their customers.
These options include the option of standing charges, per-lift, per-kilogramme, weight-bands, as well as weight allowance charges.
Roll-out of brown bins
Naughten said the new charging scheme will encourage recycling.
All waste collectors will be required to start rolling-out food and organic “brown” bins to all localities nationwide with a population greater than 500 people.
The minister said this will help more households reduce the waste they usually throw into their standard black bins. Further consideration will be given to extending ‘brown’ bin coverage in phases to smaller localities, he said.
“Allowing for a range of charging options, which most consumers are already familiar with, will encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste while choosing the service-price offering that best suits their circumstances and allows them manage their costs.
“Therefore, I have decided not to impose a compulsory ‘one size fits all’ per-kilogramme charging system on waste collectors,” he said.
In the previous row over bin charges, concerns were raised by those with long-term illness and families about the amount of waste they produce and what they would end up paying.
Medical incontinence
Under the new scheme, annual support of €75 will be introduced for persons with lifelong/long-term medical incontinence.
The minister said this support will help people meet the average annual cost of disposal of incontinence products. Further details will be finalised later this year, said Naughten.
The minister said the amount of waste sent to landfill in Ireland has increased in the last two years.
“It is important to act now to encourage waste reduction to avert a return to an over-dependence on landfill,” said Naughten, adding that Ireland has just four landfill sites remaining. Previously it had 24 landfill sites.
Naughten said the State does not control prices or set prices, but said he can ensure that there is more flexibility regime that will benefit customers
Speaking on RTÉ News this evening, Eamon Ryan from the Green Party said the government should be trying to make it easier to for people to recycle.
He said new recycling initiatives should be introduced, highlighting that his party had proposed a scheme whereby people are paid 10 cent for every plastic bottle they recycle.
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RIP.
A good man who stood by his principles while others caved.
I woulnt often agree with him but on telly he came across as a decent person. At least he stuck to his principles
Agree or disagree with him, may he R.I.P.
I met Peter Mathews once in the dark days when Ruairi Quinn just got his plan through to get rid of guidance counsellors.I was in the Dail to c the vote.Afterwards I was so upset I just bumped in to Peter by chance .I recognised him from TV.He asked me what was wrong as he saw I was upset.Peter Mathews stopped and listened to what I had to say.He was dumbfounded.But I could immediately see before me a kind concerning and one hundred per cent genuine man.Condolences to Peter’s wife and family.May he rest in peace.Im so sorry to hear this very sad news
I didn’t agree with most of his political opinion but admired him in interviews.He never lowered himself to talking over his fellow guests , it stood out.Sympathy to his family & friends.
@Diarmuid Doran: He was a decent man, should never been in fg.
Ah no way. He was excellent in relation to the bank guarantee, if only he had been listened to our states finances would have been in much better shape.
RIP
For once I’m agreeing with you… I don’t want to make a habit of it.
FC yeah, it was one of the few times I agreed with him, I thought he made some excellent points all through the era of the crash and bank guarantees.
So sad. I liked Peter, I do think he was a good guy but politics put an end to his ideas. Pity people like this can’t make a difference when they get elected but the system doesn’t help them.
So sorry to hear of Peter’s death. A very principled person – we need more of his kind. First encountered Peter at an event which he organised (at his own expense) near the peak of the banking crisis at the RDS Almost everything he predicted about the banks that evening actually came to pass. Anyone else recall the evening – about 50 people attended including just one TD, George Lee? Pity more people didn’t listen to him then.
RIP. A real gentleman
Peter Mathews was a great man, great economist, but an uncompromising politician, and that was his undoing as a politician. Once he declared his pro-life conviction he was persona non grata among the intolerant, so-called “liberal” left.
He was a mighty man, and he will be greatly missed.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
@Brian Lenehan: is there a liberal right.
@Brian Lenehan: i’m on the liberal left and I gave Peter Matthews a high preference in both general elections. I mightn’t have agreed with the man on every topic, but I could recognize a man of principal and ability.
No time for 90% of people in Fine Gael but Peter Matthews was always articulate, passionate and had a very decent streak in him.
RIP
Sorry to hear he always came across as a gent. May he rest in peace.
RIP Mr Matthews you are one person who actually tried to do the state a service and not for your own gain.
A kind articulate soft spoken but strong opinions.
Tough without being rude or loud a true gent who believed in his convictions and stood by them RIP
Peter was a wonderful man. He had time for everyone, and would spend ages talking to friend or foe. He was passionate and stubborn, but he never took disagreement personally or fell out with you if you thought some idea of his was nuts. Most of his big ideas were right. We could use more personalities like Peter in politics, regardless of their views.
He was a good man, got a bit swallowed up by FG.
Vinnie Browne used to get enjoyment from picking Peter by the scuff of the neck and shaking him vigorously around the studio, before dropping him. Peter was an able man though, and could take the banter.
Peter Mathews was an honorable and honest person. He was committed to his beliefs but was always courteous and considerate to everyone, in agreement with him or not. He deserves to be respected and remembered for all the right reasons. Condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.
So young and very sad – didn’t always agree with him RIP
I remember him on Vincent Browne, he was such a nice thoughtful man so unlike the gombeens in the main parties.
Rip Peter Matthews
RIP …HE WAS A MAN OF TRANSPARENCY AND OPENESS with truth as his maxim ….
RIP
I greatly enjoyed our few chats. Rest In Peace Forever Peter.
Sad news, condolences to his family.
May he rest in peace! God bless him and his family
May he rest in peace. A gentleman from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.
Very sad news, Condolences to his family and friends.
And we should care why?
@Christine Downey: Cos a man just died leaving his wife and children behind (who also had to bury their mother/grandmother only last week). If you didn’t care why did you click on the article in the first place? Why did you take the time to write that unnecessary comment? I don’t think you would be saying the same thing if this was your husband or father. Have a bit of respect ! Grow up…
I always thought he was one of the nicest TD’s in Fine Gael. Always came across as calm, reasoned and well spoken. A true gent. RIP.
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