Fingal claims its waste charges are the cheapest

This week will see the issuing of the first notices to households in Fingal for the payment of a fixed charge for waste services. This follows on from a County Council decision as part of this year’s budget to introduce an annual fixed charge of €110 for collection of domestic waste.

In recent months, a number of private operators who have introduced their own services in Fingal have been mounting a publicity campaign criticising the cost of the council’s service and claiming that they can offer greater value to householders. Now PJ Howell, Director of Environmental Services with the council has launched a broadside at these private contractors claiming “every household in Fingal can have a better, fairer and cheaper waste collection and recycling service by staying with the reliable excellent service the council has provided for years.”

According to PJ, “the true cost of changing to what seems like a cheaper alternative is often much higher than people realise. Unlike the Fingal service where you just buy a tag for a full black bin, charges by the private operators are broken into a lifting charge and a charge per kilo for waste collected”, the Director says. “Bearing in mind that a full black bin collected by the council weighs 40kg and costs €8, a full rubbish bin collected by a private collector can cost in excess of €9 when lifting and weight charges are added up.”

This is central to the council’s claim for offering a cheaper service than the private sector. As the private operator is charging by weight as well as a lifting charge – the more you put in the bin the greater the charge. On the other hand Fingal charges for the lift regardless of weight so the more householders cram into the bin the cheaper it costs.

The fact the council is also offering a brown bin collection three times each month means that householders are also putting far less in the black bin thus reducing the number of times it needs to be emptied. This service is not available from the private operators.

“We know that most households will wait the extra week until the black bin is really full before putting it out for collection”, said PJ. “This way they get maximum value for the cost of their bin tag. There is no doubt either that people will put out fewer black bins for collection now that the full green and brown bin services are expanded across the county”.

“Price comparisons prepared by private operators which show Fingal as being dearer are completely wrong,” according to a Council spokesperson. “These show bins being collected fortnightly and weighing 25kg. Our records show that the average weight of bins that we collect is 40kg and based on this and on the fact that most people do not leave their bin out each fortnight our charges are much cheaper,” she said.

PJ Howell further emphasises this point. “The council service can cost as little as €182 per year for those who use their green and brown bins and put out a black bin every 6 weeks. Taking full advantage of 4 recycling collections per month will mean that maximum cost control stays with the householder. No tags or extra charges apply for using green or brown recycling bins either”, said PJ, “so we’re saying to householders ‘use your green bin, use your brown bin’, and make sure you keep costs for bin tags to an absolute minimum”.

In an advertising campaign launched by the council they have provided a ready reckoner to enable householders to calculate the exact cost of the service.

“The key message to householders now is to encourage everyone to take ten minutes to work out the true cost of changing their service to a private operator,” said PJ. “Find out the full range of costs you will pay, what you get for your money, and how you will be charged. We are confident that our service will always beat the private service on price, convenience and customer service and we look forward to continuing to provide our service in Fingal in the years ahead.”

While the Council approved an annual fixed charge of €110 for household waste collections, the charge for 2008 will only be €65 as five months of the year have already passed. The tag for the black bin costs €8 and the council has also given an undertaking that it will remain at this price for 2009 also.

The council’s Environment Department will be writing to householders this week, explaining in detail all payment options for the annual fixed charge. Full details are also available on the council’s website www.fingalcoco.ie

 

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