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[Press Release: March 4th, 2002] DE BURCA CLAIMS HIGH WASTE CHARGES DUE TO PRIVATISATION!!At this week's meeting of Wicklow County Council, the issue of the recent increase in waste charges was discussed by councillors. Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, insisted that the rising cost of waste charges was a direct result of the privatisation of the waste collection services two years ago."It is ironic to think that many councillors defended their support for privatisation by arguing that it would lead to lower waste charges for householders" she says. "If we look at the charges paid by householders in Dun laoghaire Rathdown where the local authority still provides the service, the yearly charge for a wheelie bin is 190 euros. In Bray, where the services have been privatised, householders pay an annual charge of 305 euros. Furthermore, the householders in Dunlaoghaire Rathdown are provided with a "Green" wheelie bin for their recyclables which is collected every month. In Wicklow, people have to travel to the nearest mobile recycling collection point with their recyclable materials evey fortnight". Councillor de Burca appealed to the County Manager, Eddie Sheehy, to show some leadership in relation to the waste crisis in the county. "We are lurching from one waste scandal to another" she says. "There are now several instances of our water supplies having been contaminated by waste that was illegally dumped. Ballymurtagh dump in Avoca will be full by the end of this year. Rampere dump in Baltinglass will be full by the end 2003. There will be nowhere to put Wicklow waste at that point. Councillors are failing in their basic responsibilities to the people they represent". Councillor de Burca has expressed her concern that the option of incineration will be imposed on the county when no landfill capacity remains. "I am saying now that I am prepared to work with other councillors to identify a new landfill site in Wicklow that will deal with Wicklow waste only. I am urging the council to introduce bye-laws to ensure that domestic waste is separated at source. We should then be recycling as much of this separated waste as possible. Only dry,left over waste ahould go to landfill. We should be encouraging householders to compost their organic waste and we should also provide community composting facilities. All construction and demolition waste should be recycled and reused.It's not too late to adopt a sensible strategy to deal with our waste crisis". For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org. |