D
daltonr
Guest
The Cork County Manager made a statement this morning (Friday) that I thought would send shockwaves through the Bin Charges debate.
He said that they had to increase bin charges this year to balance the overall books. It was in the context of meeting the cost of benchmarking at local level. He also suggested there would be further increases next year.
Wait for it... Because people were recycling more and throwing less out for land fill, their income is dropping!!!!!
That surely boulsters the argument that Bin Charges are not a means of paying for waste disposal, they are a local tax. And they are a bad tax because they are not linked to income.
If we're going to have polluter pays, then surely the polluter should only pay for pollution, not for roads, civil servant salaries etc. And Those who take steps to recycle should be rewarded, not have charges increased to make up for the drop in income.
This might explain the huge difference in bin charges in each area. It's not based on how much is costs to dispose of the waste, It's based on the size of the local authorities overall deficit.
Waterford it turns out charges the same to dispose of a Green Recycle Bin as a Regular Rubbish Bin for Landfill. Talk about an unenlightened way of tackling the problem.
Taking away the recycle bin free, or for a reduced price would mean a drop in income.
For the record I'm in favour of Bin Charges, I don't agree with blocking trucks, but I would support anyone who refuses to pay their own charges, on the condition that they legally handle their own waste.
-Rd
He said that they had to increase bin charges this year to balance the overall books. It was in the context of meeting the cost of benchmarking at local level. He also suggested there would be further increases next year.
Wait for it... Because people were recycling more and throwing less out for land fill, their income is dropping!!!!!
That surely boulsters the argument that Bin Charges are not a means of paying for waste disposal, they are a local tax. And they are a bad tax because they are not linked to income.
If we're going to have polluter pays, then surely the polluter should only pay for pollution, not for roads, civil servant salaries etc. And Those who take steps to recycle should be rewarded, not have charges increased to make up for the drop in income.
This might explain the huge difference in bin charges in each area. It's not based on how much is costs to dispose of the waste, It's based on the size of the local authorities overall deficit.
Waterford it turns out charges the same to dispose of a Green Recycle Bin as a Regular Rubbish Bin for Landfill. Talk about an unenlightened way of tackling the problem.
Taking away the recycle bin free, or for a reduced price would mean a drop in income.
For the record I'm in favour of Bin Charges, I don't agree with blocking trucks, but I would support anyone who refuses to pay their own charges, on the condition that they legally handle their own waste.
-Rd