I am glad to say that Mayo County Council have backed away from introducing charges for recycling at the two Civic Amenity centres, for this year at least.
I was concerned by reports which appeared in the local media late last year, at which, the co-coordinator of the Connaught Waste Management Plan, Michael Joyce, spoke about the introduction of charges for recycling of household goods at the Mayo Civic Amenity centres as part of the Connaught regional plan. The comments of Mr Joyce seemed to indicate that such charges were to be introduced shortly.
I took the issue up with the members of the Environmental SPC at Mayo County Council. On Friday I received clarification from the Director of Services, Ray Norton, that this comment was "misunderstood" by the papers and that there are no plans bring in such charges this year.
While I am delighted and welcome the fact that there are to be no such charges planned for 2007, it has been indicated that Mayo County Council, will during 2007, consider what recyclables will be accepted in the future at the Civic Amenity site and ultimately whether charges will be introduced or not.
I am opposed to such charges which will punish those who are doing their bit for the environment. I think it will end up damaging the great progress that has been made in domestic waste recycling. Charging for recycling is another stealth tax and that the public should be rewarded for recycling not charged more money.
It would seem from the Connaught Waste Plan that a long term objective of the plan is to stop people using the recycling centres and thus create a bigger market for the waste collection services here in Mayo which, coincidentally have just been privatised.
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