COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, December 13, 2010
MOTION NO. 3
MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy
That this Council affirms its support for the publicly provided and managed houshold waste management system operated by SDCC, acknowledges the importance of certain features of the system including the Council funded Waiver Scheme, the absence of a standing charge, and the 3 Bin system to promote waste reduction and re-cycling. We express our commitment to working with the Manager and staff in solving the problems experienced in recent months, including Bank Holiday Monday collections, and uncertainties and difficulties being experienced by many householders in using the Brown Bin as effectively and safely as possible, and requests the Manager to provide a report on the Bin collection system and its operation since the beginning of the roll out of the Brown Bins, and to confirm that the instructions for use of the Brown Bin have been fully assessed and are compliant with best practice and all regulations. We further request the Manager to consider an expanded programmme of providing information to householders on using the 3 Bin system correctly and with maximun cost effectiveness to them.
REPORT:
South Dublin County Council currently operates an integrated waste management system that services over 75,000 households and the council commitment to the collection is such that this service is provided countywide regardless of location or economic status of the customer. The Council has implemented an electronic waste management system that makes the Council service easier and more efficient by eliminating tags and adopting a modern innovative and technology waste charge card system. South Dublin County Council is committed to a pay per lift system only and there are currently over 18,000 households availing of the waiver system operated by the authority. It should be noted that the waiver scheme has seen a significant increase in the number of applicatons received since January.
In relation to the bank holiday issue a proposal for the restructuring of the refuse collection service in tandem with the introduction of the brown bin included a provision for collections to take place on the actual bank holiday itself was negotiated with the unions with talks concluding in May this year. This negotiated proposal was however rejected following a ballot of refuse collection staff. Following this there was intensive discussions with the Labour Relations Commissions which enabled the introduction of the brown bin. Part of the agreement at that time with the LRC was that there would be further talks in early October which would encompass the presentation rates following the brown bin. Arrangements were made to ensure that a collectuion was provided on Bank Holiday Monday 25th October at a cost of approximately €19,000 and some 3,700 bins were collected. It is also worth noting that the presentation rates of brown bins on Monday routes are quite good considering the early stage of its introduction we are at and as a result this is reducing the issue in relation to the black bin collections.
The Integrated Waste System includes all of the elements, which contribute to a cleaner county. In essence it includes the residual waste collection, the bio waste collection, the green bin service, the civic amenity centre, the major infrastructure of the landfill, baling station and regional waste to energy project, the awareness and promotion elements, the bring banks, the enforcement unit. The Council is providing the maximum control of waste costs to each household. Every household will have 2 Brown Bin (140 litre),2 Green Bin (240 litre) and 2 Black Bin (240 litre) collection each month.
The Council commenced delivery of Brown bins free of charge to customers on the high density routes on June 21st 2010. Each Household received a 140 litre Brown Bin and an information pack explaining the Environmental Requirements for the introduction of the bin system and a calendar detailing the alternating presentation schedule. A self-adhesive schematic was provided for the householder to attach to the bin to give a quick overview of what could be disposed of into the bin. To aid householders in utilising the brown bin a lo-call line was set up for customers with queries relating to the Brown bin and the nature of the waste to be disposed of therein.
The Council has information on its website relating to the Brown bin and following discussions with the treatment facility the Council has agreed to permit the use of Compostable bags into the bins if the customer wishes to use such a product to contain their waste matter. The Council will continue to monitor the presentation of waste within the bins and will advise customers accordingly when issues arise.
The projection figures for waste diversion were 30% of the waste from Black bins being diverted to the brown bin. This would give an annual figure of 17,000 tonnes of bio-waste being collected, which equates to approximately 330 tonnes of bio waste a week. The first brown bin collection was on the 28th June 2010 and the tonnage collected was 8.5 tonnes.
During the week commencing 15th November, approximately 364tonnes of bio waste was collected from over 13,000 customers. These figures show 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. The Council will continue to monitor the brown bins and engage with the stakeholders to gather information in relation to awareness, technical knowledge and attitudes.