Brown bins for rural Meath by end of summer

Rural householders in Meath who haven't been supplied with compost bins, are expected to receive the bins by the end of this summer.

Many rural householders have expressed anger that they have had to pay the new Waste Recovery Levy, as they cannot reduce the waste they send to landfill or incineration, because they don't have compost bins.

The charge was introduced last year to encourage people to reduce general waste by recycling and composting.

Bord na Mona said this week that they are currently progressing plans for the national roll-out of brown bins across all counties where they offer recycling services and expect "to be operational by the end of the summer."

One woman who was angered by the situation, reported it to both the Department of the Environment and Meath County Council.

“The levy is being charged on the tonnage of general waste, the waste that goes to landfill or incineration. Compost waste is the heaviest of all, so we have no chance of reducing the weight because we haven't got compost bins,” says Bohermeen resident, Rita Kenny.

“I contacted the company when I realised what the levy was, and I contacted the Department of the Environment and Meath County Council. I was advised by the department to contact Meath County council and the council forwarded my complaint to Bord na Mona, but I had already been in contact with them."

She is urging everyone in a similar situation to make a complaint.

“It is not just the additional cost, but the principle of it. We have no way of reducing our waste. As a customer who does not have these bins provided, why should I have to pay this levy,” she added.

A spokesperson for Bord na Móna Recycling said; "Bord na Móna Recycling provides recycling and waste management services to various households across the country. In accordance with the recent amendment of The European Union Household Food Waste and Bio-waste regulations all of our recycling customers will have access to brown bins for organic waste disposal this year.

"Bord na Móna Recycling recognises that extending the provision of brown bin access to households in less populated locations is integral to supporting more effective and cost-efficient waste management approaches consistently across the country.

"We will be engaging customers directly with updates and information regarding the arrival of brown bins and collection services in their areas."