Anger as Offaly homes not eligible for brown bins charged 'overweight' fees

There is anger in one Offaly village after residents were hit with overweight bin charges by Bord na Mona despite being told her house is not eligible for a brown compost bin.

Some residents in Bracknagh have been repeatedly informed by their waste collector Bord na Mona that their area does not qualify for a brown bin due to the low population. 

One resident told us that they are therefore forced to use their green bin for waste they would otherwise put into a brown bin. 

The resident said they this week received notice from Bord na Mona that they owe almost €35 in extra charges on top of their bills because their green bin was overweight between July and September.

The resident says they are effectively forced to put organic waste into the green bin because they have no alternative, pointing out that all summer they had to use the green bin for grass cuttings which would normally go in a brown bin.

"A report I read last week from the EPA said two thirds of waste in Ireland is put into the wrong bin. I want to segregate my waste and not put organic material in my green waste bin, but my hands are a bit tied. I don't understand how they can come out and collect my green and blue bin, but not a compost bin," the resident said. 

Bord na Mona recently contacted waste customers informing them of a new Waste Recovery Levy which further adds 1 cent per kg of general waste to the price of bills since September. Bord na Mona absorbed the levy in September but it was passed on to customers from October.

The Irish government introduced the levy to "further promote and encourage recycling and composting with the core aim to reduce the amount of general waste produced."

In its notice to customers on the levy, Bord na Mona said "households can manage the impact of this change through effective use of their recycling and organic bins."

"By correctly segregating waste and by recycling where possible you can minimise your household waste charges," they added.

This segregation at a household level is impossible for people who are being told by the same company issuing this advice that they can't have a brown bin.

"I am basically being charged three times for my waste. I have my regular bill, the new levy which will be higher for me because I have more waste in my green bin than I should, and thirdly thanks to these overweight charges from Bord na Mona. It is a disgrace. I think every household in the country should be offered a brown bin if we are constantly being preached to about the environment," the resident added.

Earlier this year the Government announced new laws that made it compulsory for waste collection companies to offer all business customers a compost bin, but the laws do not apply to households.

Responding to a query from the Offaly Express, a spokesperson from Bord na Mona said: "Bord na Móna Recycling provides recycling and waste management services to various households across the country.

"In certain rural areas with a population of less than 500 people, it hasn’t been feasible to provide brown bin collection services to date. This aligned with the requirements that were previously set out in the 2015 EU Household Food Waste and Bio-waste Regulations which introduced brown bins to population centres above 500 people.

"Bord na Móna Recycling recognises that extending the provision of brown bin access to households in less populated locations is integral to supporting more effective and cost-efficient waste management approaches within those areas. In line with the recently updated Household Food Waste and Biowaste regulations and wider industry efforts, the company is currently developing plans for the rollout of a brown bin collection service for households in locations with a population of less than 500 people."