LAST UPDATE | 21 Oct

A REPORT LOOKING at methods of revitalising Dublin city centre has recommended that all waste collection in the city be transferred to one single operator.

The report said that while an immediate return to public waste management would be unfeasible, “moving to re-municipalisation of waste management on a phased basis should be considered in the long term”.

The recommendations are part of the Dublin City Taskforce’s ‘Capital City’ report, which was launched today at the GPO.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said that the report provides a “vision” for giving Dublin city a “bright future”. 

A campaign to bring Dublin’s waste collection back under public control has been stepped up by Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, and some independent councillors over the last number of months.

Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan said that the report gave “another boost” to the campaign.

“The wholesale privatisation of our bin service in 2012 has been a disaster for Dublin. It has lead to a wild west situation with up to a dozen bin companies charging ever increasing prices for a service that is not fit for purpose,” he said.

However, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon was critical of the report.

“In the absence of ringfenced funding for these uncosted measures, Fine Gael is simply using Dublin as a photo op again,” he said.

“Those of us who truly love this city and believe in its future can see the Government’s sudden interest in Dublin for the election stunt that it is.”

The report recommended that a policy framework, including necessary legislative changes, be drawn up to support the transition to a single waste-management provider.

In the immediate term, it recommended that providers find “immediate alternative solutions to presentation of bagged waste and full withdrawal of derogation of bagged waste”.

It also recommended a public awareness campaign around littering, and the provision of more wardens to police illegal dumping.

Speaking to The Journal in July as part of our Policy Matters series, Labour senator Marie Sherlock said that the current system of waste collection was inefficient, with the council footing much of the cost.

Waste collection companies take in about €350 million a year, while conversely, Dublin City Council spends approximately €100 million a year cleaning up illegal dumping.

Last month, Dublin city council announced that businesses in the city centre would no longer be allowed to leave their rubbish bags on the street for collection. The move is part of the city council’s ‘3 Pillars Waste Management Strategy‘.

With reporting by Jane Matthews.