Refuse collection company proposed sell off may affect Laois householders

NEWLY elected Laois based Senator Maria McCormack has called on the Government to intervene and stop the sell off of Bord na Móna Recycling.

Bord na Móna Recycling operates a domestic refuse collection service across Laois.

Senator McCormack said that Oireachtas members were informed that Bord Na Móna wants to sell off its recycling arm to KWD recycling.

Slamming the proposed sell-off she said: “This is a shocking but unsurprising move from Bord na Móna, and a huge concern for workers in Laois.

“Over the last few years we have seen further entrenchment of the privatisation of our waste management system. At the same time, services are declining while prices shoot up. And the scourge of illegal dumping continues to plague communities up and down the country.

Senator McCormack said: “All over Europe, there has been a move to bring the bins back under public control whereby local authorities take responsibility. Ireland should follow suit.

“Just last week we learned that bin charges were due for yet another price hike. These prices go way above the rate of inflation. For example, the recycling per lift charge is going up by 25% – 18 times the rate of inflation.” 

“The competition authority has argued that this is a highly unregulated and secretive sector. These problems will only get worse with further privatisation.

“I am calling on the government to intervene to stop this sell-off, and to protect jobs at Bord Na Móna,” said the Sinn Féin Senator.

Also calling for the proposed sale to be halted is the trade union SIPTU who called the move “an act of economic vandalism,” and said that it will be opposed.

The union has called for an investigation “into the attempt to privatise part of a profitable public company in a manner which runs counter to economic and environmental best practice.” 

SIPTU Divisional Organiser Adrian Kane said: “The announcement on Friday 7 February that Bord na Móna has concluded a deal to sell the last remaining publicly operated domestic waste collection service in the state to the Killarney Waste Disposal Company is deeply concerning and should be the focus of intense scrutiny.

“This semi-state company is part of a group which generated more than €100 million profit for the state in 2024. It also sets the gold standard for environmental and workers’ rights compliance in the sector.

“That the decision to sell it runs completely counter to best international practice in the waste collection sector and the recommendations of several governmental reports should set alarm bells ringing throughout the political system.”

Mr Kane said: “The Kerry-based company, which it is proposed buys Bord na Móna Recycling, at what is reportedly a very attractive price, was last year fined €500,000 for carrying out activities contrary to section 39 of the Waste Management Act, 1996. The whole nature of this proposed sale needs public investigation and scrutiny.”

He said: “SIPTU members have already stated that they will ballot for strike action to defend their terms and conditions of employment.

“In support of our members, SIPTU representatives are seeking to urgently meet with opposition party leaders to discuss what can be done to halt what amounts to a gross act of economic and environmental vandalism. This proposed deal can be stopped by the new Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien. We will seek an urgent meeting with him in which our members and experts can outline the many concerns about this privatisation scheme.” 

Mr Kane said: “The privatisation of local authority bin services over 20 years ago has been an unmitigated disaster in terms of the cost to customers, adverse environmental impact and decline in industry working standards. The sale of Bord na Móna Recycling would end any possibility of bringing the correct mix of public and private services to the domestic waste collection sector.

“SIPTU will fight this attempt to further degrade our public services. This proposed sale raises very serious concerns in terms of it making no economic sense for the state, having an adverse environmental impact and undermining employment standards. We cannot return to the dark days of gombeen economics that this government and proposed deal seem to be pointing us in.”