SIPTU representatives have expressed support for proposals for a waste regulator and a pilot scheme in Dublin for the re-municipalisation of domestic waste collection contained in the Report on the Circular Economy published by the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action on 15th October.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan O’Brien, said: “The Committee has recommended that the waste regulator review the benefits of the re-municipalisation of the domestic waste protection services. We believe that providing such a public service is what is best for the environment, consumers and workers.
“It is also welcomed that the Committee has endorsed the cross-party position of Dublin City Council calling for re-municipalisation of household waste services by proposing a pilot public waste collection scheme in Dublin.
“When local authorities operated the system all domestic waste was collected and those who couldn’t afford the service were subsidised by local government. Without this subvention, it increases the likelihood of illegal dumping.”
He added: “Since the privatisation of waste services, one in four households has no domestic waste collection service. We have designed a dysfunctional system which directly results in increased illegal dumping, results in environmental damage through the duplication of services and costs the consumer financially.”