More price hikes and illegal dumping if Laois wheelie bin company goes private insists Sinn Féin Senator

Bord na Móna's plan to sell its waste collection business has been slammed by Laois Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack who claims it make problems like illegal dumping and rising collection bills faced by customers.

The Portlaoise-based senator insists that more public provision of waste collection is needed rather than further privatisation of the unregulated market. She also called on the Government must intervene to protect jobs in Laois.

Sen McCormack said the decision by Bord Na Móna, a company owned by taxpayers, had decided to sell its waste collection and recycling wing to KWD Recycling in Kerry was not unexpected.

“This is a shocking but unsurprising move from Bord na Móna, and a huge concern for workers in Laois. Over the last few years we have seen further entrenchment of the privatisation of our waste management system," she said in a statement issued to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“At the same time, services are declining while prices shoot up. And the scourge of illegal dumping continues to plague communities up and own the country.

“All over Europe, there has been a move to bring the bins back under public control whereby local authorities take responsibility. Ireland should follow suit.

She said it emerged in February that bin charges were due for yet another price hike.

"These prices go way above the rate of inflation. For example, the recycling per-life charge is going up by 25 percent – 18 times the rate of inflation," she said.

Ms McCormack, who was elected to the Senate's Labour Panel, said the Competition Authority has argued that this is a highly unregulated and secretive sector. MORE BELOW PHOTO OF BORD NA MÓNA BIN LORRY.

"These problems will only get worse with further privatisation. I am calling on the government to intervene to stop this sell-off, and to protect jobs at Bord Na Móna,” she said.

The trade union Siptu has warned that workers would vote for industrial action if the company decided to sell. 

A statement issued on behalf of Bord na Móna said the decision to sell follows a strategic review which concluded that a sale would enable the business to achieve the scale and efficiency required for sustained growth, profitability and employment.

It said the sale also aligns with Bord na Móna’s strategic focus as a renewable energy business committed to helping Ireland achieve its green energy target by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

It emerged in November 2024 that KWD Recycling was the preferred bidder to buy for €55 m after the semi-state company hired PWC to find a buyer for its waste collection, recycling and landfill operations.

Bord na Móna completed a €61 m purchase of waste management company Advanced Environmental Solutions (Ireland) in 2007. It was reported at the time that the acquisition of part of Bord na Móna's strategy of diversification into waste management and power generation.

Siptu want Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien to halt the sale. The trade union had previously appealed to Government to intervene.