COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Tuesday, May 07, 2019

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor M. Johansson

To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report on when/if bulky waste collections were provided by Council and the cost of same? 

REPLY:

Household junk collections which were previously provided by South Dublin County Council were discontinued when the economic downturn happened in 2007/2008, the service was provided early in 2008 and this was the last occasion on which it was provided.    The service was provided to approximately 20,000 houses per year at a cost of over €500,000 per year to the Council.  The annual cost of €500,000 could not be sustained once the economic crisis happened, therefore the service was discontinued.   

The junk collection service was provided at a frequency of once in every three years to homes located in RAPID areas, and once in every five years to all other areas.  It is thought unlikely that the illegal dumping which takes place in this County would be prevented by the provision of a junk collection service on a once in three or five year basis.  Also, the provision of this service would do nothing to address the illegal burning of black bag waste which takes place weekly in certain parts of the County. 

There is also an issue of environmental concern with regard to this proposal.  No charge was levied for the junk collection when it was provided previously, and this is in conflict with the polluter pays principle.  To reintroduce the service now on a similar basis would be in direct conflict with National and EU waste policy and also the new waste plan for the Eastern Midlands Region in this regard.

The Waste Enforcement Section of the Council is currently making an application under the DCCAE's Anti Dumping Initiative Fund 2019 for another Mattress Amnesty (successfully yeilded over 900 mattress being dropped off at approved locations in 2018) to be implemented.