Cllr Keith Martin's Blog
Recycling charges are twisted says Martin
Posted: 26 Jun 2008 07:18 PM CDT
Councillor Keith Martin has described the decision by Mayo County Council to charge for recycling at the Derrinumera and Rathroeen amenity centres as "twisted".

Cllr Martin says "the logic behind the charge is twisted as the policy locally and nationally is that the polluter pays; not the recycler!

Last week director of services Seamus Granahan revealed the proposed charges during a meeting of the environmental policy and emergency services strategic policy committee of Mayo County Council. The Chairperson of the environment strategic policy committee is Westport's Cllr Margaret Adams.

An example of the charges which may be put into effect are €2 per car and €5 per van. A council official explained that a two-tier system might come into effect where glass and can recycling banks would remain outside the centre and would be free of charge

The director of services said that the money accumulated from this fee would be invested into the construction of other centres and that the charge should be "imposed with immediate effect".

Currently, members of the public using Rathroeen and Derrinumera civic sites are only charged for bags of refuse going to landfill.

Cllr Martin says "I am opposed to such charges which will punish those who are doing their bit for the environment. I think it will end up damaging the great progress that has been made in domestic waste recycling in Mayo. Charging for recycling is another stealth tax. The public should be rewarded for recycling not charged more money.

"Mayo County Council charges private individuals and waste contractors for dumping waste at these centres and it is from these charges that the cost of these centres should be met.

"I am taking this issue up with Mr Granahan and with Cllr Margaret Adams and the rest of her committee. I think it is appalling that there has been no opposition to this plan from the committee. I am writing to all the members and officials this week. I am also urging the public to contact their local councillors and tell them to block the charges.

"I am also urgently calling on Cllr Adams, as head of the committee responsible, to come out and join me in opposing these charges. In the meantime I will not rule out public protests on the issue.

"These charges are the thin end of the wedge and once introduced there will be no limit to how much the council can and will increase them in coming years."

Cllr Martin concluded that he will be bringing a motion before Westport Town Council calling for the revocation of the charges at the July meeting of the council.

"The polluter should pay; the recycler should not, it's a simple as that. The cost of living is now sky high and we have councillors and officials introducing another stealth tax on hard pressed families. It's a disgrace!"

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