Huge annoyance at introduction of recycling charge
THE NEW flat rate charge of €2 per entry into the county’s recycling centres at Gorey, Enniscorthy and New Ross has come under fire from president of Enniscorthy and District Chamber of Commerce John Burke O’Leary.
The charge was introduced recently in a bid to raise extra revenue for the council. At the time the council said that the charge will bring in an estimated €85,000 a year. The local authority said that within the Southern Waste Region (comprising 10 councils, of which Wexford is one), 24 of 35 sites have an entry charge and/or charge for acceptance of recyclable wastes.
Mr Burke O’Leary said that he had been approached by a good number of people and businesses who are annoyed by the new charge.
‘People are annoyed that the council has seen fit to introduce a €2 recycling charge in Enniscorthy and the rest of the county. They are very disappointed about it.
‘It is also disappointing that the reason behind the introduction of the charge is that fact that ‘everyone else is doing it’. A charge shouldn’t be introduced for that reason. It is best for Wexford and Ireland if people are able to recycle freely.
‘It is best for Ireland if we reduce our carbon footprint and ordinary people were very good at wrapping up their cardboard and other recyclable materials, paying petrol costs to bring it to a recycling centre and disposing of it correctly. This is in Ireland’s interest.
‘People are fearful that this is the start of another creeping charge and I hope that the council will charnge their minds about this. It’s not just a local issue; it’s a county issue.
‘It is very disappointing. The council should be showing a commitment to recycling and reducing Wexford’s carbon footprint and reversing the decision to impose the flat charge would be a good way to do this.
‘Several people are businesses are annoyed about this and they are more annoyed by the principcal rather than the charge itself.
‘ They are also afraid it will either stop people recycling or encourage them to hoard their recycling making less frequent trips to the centre leading to a build-up of recycling waste there.’