COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 14, 2009

QUESTION NO.6

QUESTION: Councillor R. Dowds

To ask the Manager if he would consider giving people with Monday bin collections, collections on alternative days of the week when Monday bank holidays occur?

REPLY:

As previously reported, the decision to discontinue refuse collections on or in lieu of bank/public holidays was taken in the context of generally low grey bin presentation rates, average presentation rates of approximately 33% on normal collections days falling to less than 15% for collections on or in lieu of bank/public holidays, combined with unsustainable costs of €30,000 per bank holiday to provide these collections.  The average presentation rates show that the majority of customers are not overly affected with opportunities to present grey bins reduced by approximately only 10% on some route.  This will also assist in increasing awareness of recycling and waste minimisation while customers with large families are provided with second bins where appropriate and additionally, the Ballymount Civic Amenity remains open over bank holiday weekends question for customers who feel that they have to dispose of refuse immediately.

It is acknowledged that customers ordinarily collected on Mondays are affected more than others and refuse routes are being examined to explore available options to lessen this impact.  This examination is taking place within the context of an overall review which is being held in conjunction with the unions and includes the introduction of the brown bin alternative.