Waste collection a ‘race to the bottom’

Waste collection a ‘race to the bottom of market’


Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

The Connacht Waste Co-ordinator has described the current process of the collection of household waste as a ‘street war’ and a ‘race to the bottom’ which needs to be franchised out to provide an efficient collection service.
The comments were made by Michael Joyce, the Connacht Waste Co-ordinator who told members of the Strategic Policy Committee on Environment that he does not believe there is the ‘critical mass’ in Mayo for the number of waste collection providers.
There are currently over half a dozen waste collection companies operating in Mayo but despite this only 57 per cent of households have a collection service while only nine per cent avail of a three-bin service. The household recycling rate stands at 35 per cent when the figure for the Connacht region is 41 per cent.
Mr Joyce, who is retiring from his position, explained that there is enough of an urban base in Mayo to increase these figures and that it involved all of the community. When it was put to Mr Joyce that there was no incentive to households to recycle and reduce he said the local authorities had to take the ‘bull by the horns’ and ensure collection companies provide the three bin service.
However, he said there was too much of a cost to the small waste collection providers as they compete with each other and does not believe the waste collection service can continue as it is.
“Waste collection is a race to the bottom of the market,” he said. “[You have] €99 all in services, it is a street war ….. [and] this is where irresponsible waste management occurs. Two of the biggest operators went to the wall.... it is a jungle out there.
“In every other jurisdiction in Europe the local authority franchises [the service] out to a single collector. It has to happen and in time it will happen because the small companies do not have the critical mass.”
The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan had looked to regulate waste collection under which local authorities and private firms would bid for a franchise to collect waste in each area but after opposition from the companies, he abandoned the proposals allowing unrestricted competition between waste collectors to be retained.
Mr Joyce said it was not unusual for four collectors to provide a service to the same estate and was costing the providers thousands of euro a year. He also said that in Mayo there was only two civic amenity centres which did not serve the county and there was a gap for more.
Cllr Peter Flynn Chairman of the SPC said that while Mayo was a rural county there was a huge gap to make up in terms of recycling and it was a challenge they had to try to meet.
A presentation was made by Cllr Flynn and Director of Services, Martin Keating to Mr Joyce to mark his retirement.

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