Council: no plans for new junk collection

By Echo Reporter

SOUTH Dublin County Council have no plans to reinstate a junk collection – which was previously in use until 2008 and provided a service to approximately 20,000 houses at a cost of €500,000 a year.

Household junk collections were previously provided by the local authority but discontinued in early 2008 due to the economic downturn.

Independent Councillor asked council chiefs at the recent Clondalkin area meeting if they had plans to re-introduce the service to combat illegal dumping, but was told the annual cost of €500,000 could not be sustained.

Junk collections were provided at a frequency of once in every three years to homes located in RAPID areas, and once in every five years to all other areas.

A SDCC spokesperson said: “It is thought unlikely that the illegal dumping which takes place in this county would be prevented by the provision of such a service on a once in three- or five-year basis. Also, the provision of this service would do nothing to address the illegal burning of black bag waste which takes place weekly in certain parts of the county.

“There is also an issue of environmental concern with regard to this proposal. No charge was levied for the junk collection when it was provided previously, and this is in conflict with the polluter pays principle.

“To reintroduce the service now on a similar basis would be in direct conflict with National and EU waste policy and also the new waste plan for the Eastern Midlands Regions in this regard.”