Waste companies could be prosecuted over brown bin delays

Waste collection companies that don't provide brown bins for food waste could find themselves before the courts, Westmeath County Council says.

Speaking at the recent meeting of the Strategic Policy Committee on Environment, Climate Action, Water and Emergency Services, senior engineer Jonathan Deane said that as a county Westmeath is “not performing well” when it comes to food waste collection.

He said that waste providers have a legal obligation to provide brown bins, but that when it comes to the cost to the consumer there is a “lacuna” in legislation. He added that waste providers have claimed that the cost is “so expensive” due to the lack of public interest in disposing of their food waste separately, but the council has found that this is not the case.

A new survey currently being carried out in Rochfortbridge will give the council an insight into people's attitudes to food waste and using brown bins, he added.

If there is a market for brown bins and the waste companies fail to provide them, the data survey could give the council “potential ammunition for prosecution under waste regulations for not providing the appropriate service, he said.

“We can't enforce it on the individuals to use the service but we can enforce it on the providers to ensure that they provide the service,” Mr Deane said.

Environmental awareness officer John Jackson told the meeting that while the response from the people of Rochfortbridge has been “overwhelmingly positive”, the council was getting “two answers” when it comes to the public's attitude to brown bins.

“The waste companies are saying that people have very little interest in brown bins, but we are speaking to people who are looking for brown bins,” he said.

Cllr Johnny Penrose welcomed the news that there had been a positive response from the people of Rochfortbridge. When browns are introduced around the county it is important that cost is not prohibitively high, he said.

Cllr Louise Heavin said that she had heard that in some parts of Athlone waste companies won't collect brown bins.