Newry, Mourne and Down has rejected a Stormont department proposal on a new bin collection policy for households in Northern Ireland.
The council’s environment committee was presented with its consultation response this week to DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) on its plans for greater separation of recycling materials.
The DAERA proposals also look to extend collection periods from two weeks to three weeks. The deadline for responses to the public consultation is June 27.
Rowallane SDLP rep, Terry Andrews said: “Why mend something, when it is not broken. The cost of the bin changes is of concern, will central government pick up the tab or is it going to be up to the councils?
“It’s like taking Stormont out for a fancy meal and they do a runner, leaving you with the bill.
“I am worried about the cost being passed on to the ratepayer. It is going to be a major programme of work.
“People are very concerned over the change in collection periods, the bin sizes and ultimately the cost.”
Downpatrick Alliance cllr, Cadogan Enright added: “Really we would expect all the big multi-national groups who provide packaged goods into the supply chain, to be writing a cheque to each council across these islands.
“The cost should not be passed to the ratepayer. We need to be putting pressure on the producers of the packaging, they know their tonnage and the maths would be simple to figure out on this. They should be compensating us for having to sort out their packaging.”
A council officer responded: “Just to be clear the council’s consultation response is not in support of the proposals being put forward by DAERA.
“We operate a co-mingled (recycled material) system and it is working quite well in this district.”
