COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 14, 2011

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager for an updated Report on the Strategic Review of the Council's household bin collection system, and if  he will confirm that the Review is having full regard to the formally adopted view of the elected members that the bin collection system should continue to provided by the Council, that the Black and Brown Bins should be managed and collected  by Council staff and that a majority of the elected members are opposed to the privatization of the system? 

REPLY:

South Dublin operates a refuse collection service in the county.  This is a three bin system - green, brown and black - as required under the Council's Bye-Laws.  There are a number of private providers also operating in the county and providing the same service to customers.  Recent years have seen dramatic changes in presentation levels and increasing costs in relation to disposal.  Each day that the Council collects waste it now costs €55,000.  This situation is unsustainable.  The Council under Section 33 of the Waste Management Act (as amended) "shall collect, or arrange for the collection of, household waste within its functional area".  The Council therefore is undertaking a review of options which include keeping the service as it is, understanding the value and interest of the market in the service, procuring the service or indeed simply standing back from the service.

The Council is progressing with exploring these options and is in discussion with the trade unions.  The Council in so doing is acting within the scope of the Public Service Agreement (Croke Park).  There will be no loss of jobs from any action taken to bring about a change in waste collection within the county.   The action complies with government policy and in particular the programme for government which states "competitive tendering for local waste collection services by the private sector..."  The Council's position as regulator will be enhanced and bye laws will be regularaly reviewed.  This action will represent a considerable efficiency being achieved under the Croke Park Agreement and the issue of waivers will be included in any negotiation which is undertaken. 

The Council will be operating within the Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended)