Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It seems waste collection companies are threatening to hike prices for collecting recycling bins. Their claim is that this is to make up for the loss of plastic bottles and drink cans to the deposit return scheme that is now in place. If this price hike goes ahead, it will be a blow to households, many of which are struggling with the cost of living. People have engaged with the deposit return scheme in good faith to play their part in protecting the environment. It seems they now face a rip-off for doing the right thing. I am sure the Taoiseach will agree this cannot be countenanced. The idea that households could face higher costs to protect the profit margins of private companies is outrageous. When will the Government follow the example of other EU states and bring the bins back under public control to ensure households are treated fairly and to protect them from unfair costs?

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