This article is from page 17 of the 2012-01-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
NEARLY half of households throughout Clare don’t pay for household refuse collection from a registered operator, raising fears that a new ‘black economy’ has emerged around the whole area of waste disposal because of these harsh economic climate.
Ennis area councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) made the claim during a debate on a report on the findings of the Special Policy Committee on the Environment during the January meeting of Clare County Council on Monday.
“I know that 48 per cent of householders don’t have a contract for waste collection,” revealed Cllr Flynn, “and there seems to be a black economy developing, with a lot of people paying people who are not registered operators to remove their waste,” he added.
And, his figures were backed up by Betty Devanney from the environment section of the local authority, while a number of councillors said that the figure of 48 per cent was brought about by virtue of the fact that a growing numbers of house- holders are pooling together to cover their refuse costs.
“Some householders are sharing bin costs,” revealed former Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind). “That’s one of the reasons for the 48 per cent. I share a bin and I think it’s good that if people can come to some sort of agreement like that,” she added. “Because of the town we live in, we should encourage more people to share bin costs,” said Cllr John Crowe (FG).
However, Cllr Flynn pressed for the council to put the onus on householders to prove that their refuse is being collected by a registered operator and that their waste isn’t being disposed of illegally.
“In Limerick and Louth they have waste by-laws in place, whereby people have to prove to the council that they have a contract with a registered operator to remove their waste,” said Cllr Flynn. “That should be brought in by Clare County Council,” he added.
“We are aware of Limerick and Louth and the by-laws that are in place,” said council official Betty Devanney, “and we will be discussing that as an SPC meeting to have them in place in Clare,” she added.