COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 10, 2012

MOTION NO.9

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

That this Council expresses its dissatisfaction with the timing of the publication by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government of the Waste Policy document "A Resource Opportunity" in late July, a time when local authorities could not feasibly schedule meetings to consider the many important proposals in the policy document, notes that the Policy in one very important respect departs completely from the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a tendering system in each local authority area which would result in one Waste Management company getting the contract for all household waste collection in a defined area, and is concerned about the sustainability of a possible "free for all" situation with several company waste collection trucks coming into small areas on several days per week, nevertheless acknowledges that there are several positive aspects of the new policy, including a renewed commitment to include provision for financial support to help low income families to pay for waste collection, calls on the Manager to provide for this meeting a draft response document  to the policy proposals, which councillors can consider for forwarding to the Minister, and finally that it is the view of this Council that Government should implement improved and strictly regulated systems for effective management for the recycling and disposal of household waste as soon as possible.

REPORT:

The document published in July 2012 is the formal statement of Government Policy in relation to Waste Management. The new government policy was discussed at the Environment SPC on Monday 3rd September and it was agreed that a detailed presentation and discussion of what is an extensive document would be held at the next meeting of the SPC.

The publication of the document comes after a considerable period of consultation during which 83 submissions were made. A Submission was made by Dublin City Council on behalf of the Dublin Regional Waste Authorities and is attached for the information of Councillors.