Bríd Smith: Demands action on green bin price hikes and privatisation
Deputy Bríd Smith challenged proposed rises in household green-bin collection charges after waste companies lost plastic bottles and cans. She argued the market must not 'crucify people' during a cost of living crisis and asked whether waste services should be returned to public, not-for-profit control.
Issue raised
The deputy said waste management companies have claimed plastic bottles and cans were the most valuable items in the household green bin and, because they no longer receive them, want to increase green-bin collection prices. She questioned whether the State will prevent companies from passing those costs on to households.
Public control question
She repeated a question asked by the opposition about whether waste management should be taken back into public control and run on a not-for-profit basis, arguing privatisation of waste services was inappropriate given the potential household cost impact.
Ministerial reply
The minister responded that the question had been answered previously and that returning services to public control is not currently government policy. The minister said an evidence base is needed rather than accepting company claims at face value.
Regulatory oversight and legal limits
The minister noted charges applied by waste companies are matters for those companies but are subject to contract and consumer legislation. It was pointed out that permits require fees to respect the polluter pays principle and to incentivise segregation of waste.
Next steps and enforcement
The National Waste Collection Permit Office has responsibility for issuing all waste collection permits and is engaging on the matter, including reviewing information about the charges or suggestions put forward by companies. The minister emphasised regulatory compliance rather than immediate policy change.
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The waste management companies have said that the plastic bottles and cans are the most valuable items in the household green bin and because they don't get them anymore they want to put up the price of the collection of the household green bin now you didn't answer Mary Lou McDonald's question will you countenance the increase in prices in the green bin because of this policy of profit making from it if they were if they were valuable they should never have been charging for the green bin but they were now they want to increase it will you say to them that they can't do this that the market cannot crucify people during a cost of living crisis and when an item such as waste management should never have been privatised and in fact will you also answer the question she asked you and I'm going to repeat do you agree with the opposition that waste management should be taken back into public control and run publicly for a not-for-profit basis thank you I answered that question the last time and that's not currently the government's plans but in relation to the specific issues I think we do need to have an evidence base here rather than just accepting what a waste company or with the greatest of respect to them or anybody else actually says here the charges applied by waste management companies are matters for the companies but they are subject to compliance with relevant legislation including contract and consumer legislation and it is a condition of the permits under which waste collectors operate to charge fees which respects the polluter pays principle and to incentivise the segregation of waste so the National Waste Collection Permit Office have responsibility for issuing all waste collection permits and they now are engaging on this matter including some of the information or the charges or suggestions being put forward by the companies deputy Palatotti
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