Waste collection guidance

Monitoring the cost of your waste collection

To deliver effective waste management service across Ireland, it’s important to understand how this complex market operates. Established in 2017, the Price Monitoring Group monitors 19 firms operating across 26 geographic markets to examine what households pay for the removal of waste.

What we do

With no uniform pricing structure in place, the cost of household waste collection varies across the country. The PMG undertakes mystery calls and compiles monthly reports on what prices are charged for the collection of household waste by the different waste collection firms. The prices we study include annual service charges, lift charges for different bins (waste, recycling and brown bins) as well as any excess weight charges, with the data published on an anonymised basis.

Understanding your waste footprint

All householders that use the services of a licensed waste collection company have a right to access information including details of how much waste they produce, including weight and the type of waste (general waste, recycling and brown bin). Householders should also be able to access details about the date of collection and the registration number of the collection truck. This account information helps you check the accuracy of the bills charged by your waste collection company.

Licensed waste collection companies are required to provide this information in writing, including online. To access these details online, householders will require an online account, with a login and password, which should be provided by the waste collection firm at account sign-up. Not all licensed waste collection firms currently provide an online account summary, in which case householders should be given a written copy for their records. Contact your waste collection provider if you can’t locate your online login details. Alternatively, you can access your account information by writing to your waste collection provider

What if my waste collection provider raises prices?

Over the course of the last 12 months, the Price Monitoring Group did record price increases by some waste collection firms but found most were unchanged over the course of the year. If you are concerned about a price rise, explore ways to reduce the volume of waste you produce.

You could also contact your provider to see if they have any alternative plans that can help you reduce costs. Depending on where you live, it might be possible to save money by switching provider.

If you believe that your have been overcharged

If you believe that your have been overcharged due to an incorrect weighing of your waste please forward your details to NSAI Legal Metrology at or complete thir complaints form.

Keeping good records

When it comes to personal budgeting, it is always a good idea to keep good records of any payments for a four-year period. This will not only help you understand the cost of managing your waste but will also support your case should there be any discrepancies between your records and the account details provided by your waste collection provider relating to the weight and costs of your waste removal.

What if there is a dispute?

If you cannot resolve the dispute with the waste collection firm directly, the next step is to inform your local authority, particularly if you have concerns about the accuracy of your bin weight. You should also contact the National Standards Authority of Ireland and provide the registration number of the collection truck.

If the dispute is about the terms and agreements of service, then you should contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Did you know that you can check your bin weights?

Household waste operators are required under their permit to let customers know the weight of waste collected. Information on the weight of each separate bin collection must be made available to customers at least monthly, and can be made available in writing or electronically (e.g. accessible under customers account on their website). Contact your waste operator for further details.

IWMA

The Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) is a trade association for waste management companies in Ireland. Their Members operate to the highest industry standards and have signed up to the Rules of the Association, that ensure that they provide waste management services to the public and to businesses in a professional and ethical manner.

Members processed approximately 3.5 million tonnes of waste at our 65 non-hazardous and 10 hazardous waste facilities in 2013. The bulk of this waste was recycled or otherwise recovered. All member facilities are either licensed by the EPA or operated under a local authority permit.

Some key points to note

• Mandatory per kilogramme pay by weight charging as planned in 2016 is not being introduced;
• Flat rate fees will be phased out over a 12 month period beginning in the Autumn, 2017;
• An annual support of €75 will be introduced for persons with lifelong/long-term medical incontinence. This support will help people meet the average annual cost of disposal of incontinence products. The details and arrangements of this support will be finalised later this year, after further consultation with the relevant stakeholder groups;
• The waste collection market is serviced by private companies and the state has no role in setting prices.
• Setting prices will remain a decision for each collector.
• Examples of incentivised pricing options include:
  • Service fee and pay per kilo charge;
  • Service fee, lift fee and per kilo charge;
  • Service fee and weight band charging; and
  • Service fee including weight allowance plus per kilo surcharge for excess weights;
• In support of the new arrangements, the three Regional Waste Management Planning Offices will implement an information and awareness campaign in the third quarter of the year; The phasing out of flat rate fees will not affect contracts currently in place as the requirement to remove the option of a flat rate fee will only apply to:
  • new customers; or
    customers as they renew their contracts from the Autumn of 2017; and
  • However, it is always open to a collector to amend the terms and conditions of a contract within the limits of consumer and contract legislation.

Charging Structure

The Waste Collection Market in Ireland is serviced by a diverse range of private companies. The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.

Some examples of charging structures are:

• Per lift charge (incl weight allowance), plus per kg charge for excess weight above allowance
• Service charge, plus charge per lift per bin
• Service charge, plus charge per lift per bin, plus per kg excess charge
• Service charge plus per kg weight charge
• Service Charge plus weight band charge
• Service charge, plus charge per lift per bin, plus per kg excess charge
• Service charge (incl weight allowance), plus per kg charge for excess weight above allowance
• Charge Per lift Per bin
• Per lift charge (including weight allowance), plus per kg charge for excess weight above allowance
• E-tag option

If you are experiencing any issues with your waste collection service, your first point of contact is your service provider’s customer service department. Complaints are subject to the terms and conditions of your contact with them.