State company hikes bin charges on Laois households due 'unprecedented costs' rise

A State-owned company bin company is set to charge thousands of housholds in Laois and counties in Leinster and Munster more to collect their rubbish because big rise in overheads.

Bord na Móna Recycling has written to customers advising them of a increase in charges from February. The standard service charge will go up by €2 per per month per general waste bin.

The company, which is owned by taxpayers, outlines the reasons why it claims customers will have to fork out more.

"As a business, we have incurred unprecedented costs increases over the pat 12 months. These increases include a 30% increase in fuel costs along with similar energy cost increases to power and waste recovery operations.

"As is the case across many industries, the costs incurred for raw materials and spare parts deployed across our fleet and waste processing equipment have also increased significantly.

"We are continually working to advance our efficiencies in the extraction of all recycling and recovery potential from waste to offset these increases, unfortunately it is not always possible. 

"To continue bringing you the best service possible your price will change from February," it said.

The standard service charge will go up by €2 per per month per general waste bin.

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Bord na Móna Recycling, formally AES, collects waste from homes and businesses across Leinster and North Munster. 

Bord na Móna's involvement in the waste business predates its exit from peat production by more than a decade. It bought AES for €61 million in 2007.