Thousands Of Locals Reliant On Wheelie Bin Services Could Be Impacted By Strikes

Friday, 10 January 2025 14:34

By Martin Osborne

Kfm has contacted Bord na Móna for comment.

Thousands of households across Kildare could be facing disruption to their bin collection services over proposed plans by Bord na Móna to sell its waste collection services.

SIPTU members working for Bord na Móna Recycling are set to meet later this month to discuss potential industrial action, including a strike, to oppose the planned sale of Ireland's last publicly-owned domestic waste collection service.

SIPTU's Adrian Kane criticised the proposed privatisation, calling it "ill-thought-out" and detrimental to workers, communities, and the environment.

Workers for the commercial, semi-state company collect bins across Kildare, Carlow, Wicklow, Meath, and surrounding counties.

“Across Europe, and increasingly in Ireland, public enterprises are recognised as the most effective way to manage domestic waste collection, both environmentally and financially,” Kane stated.

He accused the caretaker government of rushing through the sale without considering the broader implications.

"Our members will also be contacting all the likely participants in the incoming government to brief them on the national resource which they are about to squander," he said.

He urged for the process to be halted and argued for the development of Bord na Móna Recycling as a cornerstone of a renewed public domestic waste collection system, citing successful remunicipalisation efforts in Berlin, Norway, and other parts of Europe as examples.

SIPTU members have informed Bord na Móna management about their planned meeting to determine their response to the sale.

A spokesperson for Bord na Móna told Kfm that a strategic review of its recycling business is still in progress.

They said further details on this process cannot be provided at this point.