COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC REALM AND CLIMATE CHANGE SPC

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

 

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Item from April Council Meeting:  Private waste collection companies and bin clips

REPLY:

MOTION: Councillor D. Looney

That this Council, noting the high levels of litter resultant from green, brown and black bins blowing over in windy conditions, seeks to enforce a requirement for all companies involved in bin collection to provide devices or mechanisms to keep bins closed even in the case of falling, and for such a requirement to be implemented via the Environment SPC.

REPORT:

Many waste collectors use wheelie bins for safe and efficient collection of waste. They are also less likely than refuse sacks to cause a litter problem as they cannot be torn by animals or vandals.

In accordance with Section 8 (7) of the SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL HOUSEHOLD WASTE BYE-LAWS 20l2 PRESENTATION OF WASTE FOR COLLECTION: The holder of any household waste presented for collection shall promptly remove and collect all matter which may spill or escape from the Appropriate Waste Container so presented, howsoever such matter shall spill or escape.

In accordance with Section 8 (8): A holder shall present household waste for collection at a prescribed place, and shall not cause or permit waste to be presented for collection in a manner that would cause environmental pollution.

Similarly, the Waste Collection Operator is conditioned under the terms of their Waste Collection Permit (WCP) issued by the National Waste Collection Permit Office, who hold responsibility for developing standard mandatory conditions, to ensure that the waste permit holder shall clean up immediately any spillage of waste which occurs in the course of the collection operation.

Bins are property of the Private Waste Collection Companies authorised to collect within the Local Authority Area, and contracts for the collection of same are between the Authorised Contractor and the Householder. Each Householder is required to have a three bin collection service (Residual, Recyclates, Collection of Food waste (in accordance with the European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio Waste) Regulations 2015)).

There is no legislation contained within the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007 as amended that states that waste receptacles should contain locking mechanisms.

Any resident seeking to use products available on the market to modify the opening mechanism of their lids are advised to contact their authorised operator to discuss the matter as retrofitting of mechanisms may damage the bin and result in replacement charges.

It should also be noted that locked bins cannot be inspected for contamination by the authorised operator/waste enforcement officer in accordance with segregation requirements contained within Waste Management legislation.