Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister met the industry for negotiations and we now have this resolution. I come from a local authority background, having been a councillor from October 2003 until my recent election to the Seanad. Some other colleagues from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Senators Boyhan and Richmond, are also in the Chamber. That council introduced pay by weight in 2005. Prior to then, one paid €300 per year for as much as one could dump in any bin one liked. I do not think we even had green bins at the time. We must acknowledge the progress that has been made. Initially, green bins did not even take plastic. Much has changed for the better. When we are monitored, we behave in a certain way. People examined their bin weights and started buying compost bins. They discovered that there was a benefit, not just in reducing waste by composting, but in having compost for use in a garden.

The amount of scaremongering has been outrageous. Of course we must take into account people with medical issues or those who may have large amounts of waste. In the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area, we have a flat standing charge of €64 per year with Panda and are charged per lift and per kilo. Will the Minister consider this system? Since it is a lift charge and a kilo charge, people only present a bin when it is full, making the system more efficient instead of everyone putting out bins that are 80% empty. The routes are longer and more efficient, with only one bin in every ten being collected. Most people have discovered that they hardly ever put out their black bins unless, for example, they have young children or medical issues. By and large, a significant quantity of what we dispose of is recyclable, for example, paper, Tetra Pak and plastic. Some operators take glass in green bins while others do not. Either way, there are numerous bottle banks around. We should also consider this issue. I was surprised to realise that many local authorities do not use pay by weight. Pay by weight is a positive step. I would not recommend standing charge hikes. The charge should be as low as possible and one should be charged based on what one puts into a bin and how often one presents it. This would make people change their approach.

It is important that civic recycling facilities be available, for example, for fluorescent tubes, light bulbs, aerosols, etc. We have a landfill levy to try to stop people putting material into landfill. The more that pay by weight is implemented, the better it will be for consumers. Assuming the standing charge is fair, few people should end up paying more than they do now. If people have not considered this system, they should talk to people who have used it, for example, those in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area, who have been very happy with the outcome. When we finally privatised our bin collection, 80% of our customers had already left for Panda and Greenstar of their own will because they were offering a cheaper and better service, with bins being put back onto footpaths instead of being left in the middle of the road. We were left with hardly anyone. That was 2010 and Panda applied a price freeze for four years.

I am sure there are rogue operators, but not all bin collectors are rogue, cowboy, fly-by-night operators.