SIPTU has demanded a halt to the sale of Bord na Móna (BNM) Recycling and an investigation into the attempt to privatise part of a profitable public company in a manner which runs counter to economic and environmental best practice.
SIPTU Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “The announcement on Friday (7th February) that Bord na Móna has concluded a deal to sell the last remaining publicly operated domestic waste collection service in the State to the Killarney Waste Disposal Company is deeply concerning and should be the focus of intense scrutiny.
“This semi-state company is part of a group which generated more than €100 million profit for the State in 2024. It also sets the gold standard for environmental and workers’ rights compliance in the sector. That the decision to sell it runs completely counter to best international practice in the waste collection sector and the recommendations of several governmental reports should set alarm bells ringing throughout the political system.
“The Kerry-based company, which it is proposed buys Bord na Móna Recycling, at what is reportedly a very attractive price, was last year fined €500,000 for carrying out activities contrary to section 39 of the Waste Management Act, 1996. The whole nature of this proposed sale needs public investigation and scrutiny
“SIPTU members have already stated that they will ballot for strike action to defend their terms and conditions of employment. Our Shop Stewards committee will meet this evening (Monday, 10th February) to discuss the next actions in our industrial and political campaign.
“In support of our members, SIPTU representatives are seeking to urgently meet with opposition party leaders to discuss what can be done to halt what amounts to a gross act of economic and environmental vandalism. This proposed deal can be stopped by the new Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien. We will seek an urgent meeting with him in which our members and experts can outline the many concerns about this privatisation scheme.”
He added: “We should look at the past to inform the present. The corrupt privatisation of Eircom nobbled our telecommunications sector for decades. The privatisation of local authority bin services over 20 years ago has been an unmitigated disaster in terms of the cost to customers, adverse environmental impact and decline in industry working standards. The sale of Bord na Móna Recycling would end any possibility of bringing the correct mix of public and private services to the domestic waste collection sector.
“SIPTU will fight this attempt to further degrade our public services. This proposed sale raises very serious concerns in terms of it making no economic sense for the State, having an adverse environmental impact and undermining employment standards. We cannot return to the dark days of gombeen economics that this Government and proposed deal seem to be pointing us in.”