COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, October 18, 2010

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor S. Crowe

"To ask the County Manager for an update on the roll out of the brown bin system, the amount of complaints received, how many customers have refused to uptake on the bins, and how the Council are dealing with complaints about mulch, maggots, and residents not being allowed to use compostable bags in the bins in this Committee area?"

REPLY:

The Council commenced delivery of brown bins to customers on the high density routes on June 21st 2010 and the first brown bin collections taking place on the 28th June 2010. The roll-out of the brown bins has now reached over 95% of domestic customers at this stage and the collection schedule of alternating black and brown bin collections is now operating for customers and is being carried out using existing collection staff resources. Initially customers contacted the Council regarding problems with waste not fully emptying, bins not being collected and damaged bins.  Customers were advised as to how best to deal with the waste presented, advised of account problems and the Contractor was notified of damage and the problems were rectified promptly on receipt of customers details.  Currently the staff deal with requests for bins to be issued to customers who were not included in the original roll out.

Presentation rates of the black bin fortnightly are approaching 50%, Brown Bins fortnightly are at a presentation rate of approximately 25%.  The Green bin has a 70% presentation rate. This indicates that customers have a good understanding of the materials to be placed in the bin. The key elements of this service will be the participation and the average bin weights presented. 

In accordance with the South Dublin County Council Storage Presentation and Collection of Household Waste Bye Laws 2007 Bye Laws where such a system is provided the householder is obliged to present the waste accordingly.

It is not uncommon for bins to smell unpleasant and experience flies and maggots where food waste is present. This is to be expected in particular as ‘food waste’ in the bin is the next generation meal in the food chain to primary decomposers ‘flies and maggots’. To combat this there are a few simple things customers can do to reduce and prevent the odours and insects:

• Keep the lid closed on the bin at all times.
• Double-bag all food waste, particularly meat. Use only 100% compostable bags; they will decay leaving no residue. Biodegradable and Compostable are not the same.
• Recycle waste so that general refuse is minimized and the bin lid remains shut.
• Keep the bin out of direct sunlight (slowing general decomposition, reducing smells and slowing the development of maggots, etc.). 
• Do not leave waste food exposed inside the home before putting it in the bin, as flies can lay eggs during this time. Uncovered bins inside the kitchen can also allow flies to lays eggs on waste food. 
• Squeeze the air out of bags used to contain food waste, etc. before tying and put in the bin (the lack of air should slow down general decomposition, reduce smells and slow the development of maggots, etc.).

Maggots will only appear in the bin if the eggs have been laid in a suitable food source for them to develop. If bins are kept closed, flies should not be able to enter to lay their eggs.

Following discussions with the treatment facility the Council are permitting the use of 100% Compostable refuse bags and liners in the brown bin.  These products are available to purchase in hardware stores, on supermarket shelves and on the internet. Some of the products state on the wrapper that they are suitable for use in council brown bins.  These products are available in different sizes for domestic household waste, garden waste and bin liners.

The Council will continue to monitor the tonnages of residual waste and bio waste and the presentation rates of both the black bin and the brown bin to obtain accurate figures for assessment of the impact of the introduction of the new system.