Resentment over brown bin charge

Resentment over brown bin charge

21 June 2017

NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council may be on the verge of back tracking in a dispute over brown bins.

Council officials are believed to be prepared to waive a fee for a new brown bin that was being demanded from around 3,000 residents in the former Down Council area.

When brown bins were introduced in urban areas of Down District several years ago they were only for garden waste so many people in who did not have a garden did not accept the bins, which were not distributed to residents in rural areas.

However, the new Newry Mourne and Down Council is introducing a mandatory waste food collection service and wants householders to use the brown bins.

But there was anger among the 3,000 urban residents of Down District when council officials said they would charge them to deliver a new brown bin — even though they had declined to take a free brown bin several years ago.

Tonight members of the council’s Regulatory and Technical Services Committee will be asked to consider the problem. If they decide to provide the bins free of charge it will cost the council an extra £40,000.

Rowallane councillor, Billy Walker, has branded any attempt to charge ratepayers for a brown bin as “unfair” and is urging members of the local authority’s committee to ensure the bins are distributed free.

“People in rural areas in the old Down Council area who did not initially receive a brown bin will now get one for nothing, but those in towns and large villages who were entitled to a brown bin but who did not take one are being asked to pay,” he said.

“Food waste in brown bins will be collected and turned into compost which is an environmentally friendly initiative which I wholeheartedly endorse. Significantly, council officials insist that very shortly, black bins which contain food waste will not be lifted and that is going to cause all sorts of problems for those who do not have a brown bin.”

The Rowallane politician said it is his understanding that under current legislation, all ratepayers must be provided with a free brown bin. 

He added: “The rules governing the use of brown bins have changed and council officials need to recognise this. Placing waste food in them is relatively new and while I understand the reason for doing this, ratepayers who do not have a brown bin should not have to pay for one. I sincerely hope common senses prevails at tonight’s meeting.”

A Newry, Mourne and Down Council spokesman confirmed a paper due to be discussed at tonight’s committee meeting will outline the cost of supplying around 3,000 brown bins.

“While the council is ready to provide the bins, it needs to determine whether these should be paid for or provided at no cost as all urban dwellings have previously been provided with brown bins,” he said.

The spokesman added: “If the council decides to provide these bins free, then there will be a potential £40,000 budget overspend in this area.”