Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach referred to the spirit of the legislation. However, this concerns multinational and profit-making companies and it does not happen that way, as is evident in this case. Without putting out a bin, there is an increase from €59.95 to €169 per annum. That is not the spirit of recycling. This is relevant for Thorntons. It has been reported in the media today that families are finding themselves subject to a 75% increase in waste charges calculated over one year. That is not in the spirit of recycling. The Taoiseach should initiate an investigation into the cartels. For example, if people move from Greyhound to Thorntons, they are charged a registration fee of €40. If they want to move to a bin company which operates outside the areas in which these companies generally work - for example, Thorntons and Greyhound operate in my area - they cannot get another to come in. Another company will not come into an area to collect ten bins. It will only do so if it will have a monopoly or enough bins to collect in a given area. People are incensed about this issue. I have organised public meetings in Drimnagh, Ballyfermot and Crumlin in the coming two weeks and I invite my fellow Deputies to join in them.

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