Charging recyclers is a backward step

mayo | environment | news report Thursday November 02, 2006 10:27 by Cllr Keith Martin - Westport Labour

Plans to start charging at Mayo's two recycling centres is a backward step says local councillor.

A Westport Town Councillor has criticised proposals to charge householders to recycle at Mayo County Council’s two recycling centres, these recycling facilities are currently free of charge to the Mayo public. Labour’s Cllr Keith Martin says the proposal is a backward step and will punish those taking the effort to recycle and reduce their waste.

The charges are being recommended by under the regional Connaught Waste Recycling Management Plan, which proposes that householders be charged to recycle their household waste at the centres in Derrinumera and Rathroeen.

Cllr Martin says he is dismayed that the council is to bring in charges “to 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 which have been made in Mayo and I trust that the County Councillors will reject such proposals. Charging for recycling is another stealth tax and that the public should be rewarded for recycling not charged more money." Cllr Martin says he will be writing to the members of Mayo County Council’s Environmental Strategic Policy Committee and to Mr Ray Norton of Mayo County Council, asking them to abandon the charges. We will never correct the damage being done to our planet if we start financially punishing those who are working to recycle their waste" concluded Cllr Martin.