Anti Bin Tax Campaign hots up in Finglas

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Monday September 11, 2006 11:15

by Conor J. McGowan - The Irish Socialist Network

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Over the last number of weeks Dublin City Council has begun to implement non-collection in parts of Finglas East

The Finglas Branch of the ISN is currently immersed in the Anti-Bin Tax Campaign. Over the last number of weeks Dublin City Council has begun to implement non-collection in parts of Finglas East. Local residents have responded vigorously! In one estate over 40 residents turned out early in the morning to dump their bags in the truck showing that resistance to the stealth tax was still robust in the area. The council official present was so overwhelmed by the action that he rang the Gardai who duly arrived but, as no laws were being broken, left without a word. Since then, the campaign has leafleted all the areas affected and, along with residents in these areas we are organising the dumping of rubbish into the bin trucks.

The Campaign in Finglas.

The Finglas campaign, which has broad support with members of the ISN, SF, SP and non-aligned people on its committee, circulated an information leaflet advising that residents are legally entitled to dump their rubbish in the bin truck under the Litter Pollution Act of 1997 (see relevant section below).

LITTER POLLUTION ACT 1997

Part 1, Section 5 states clearly

“5. nothing in section 3 shall be construed as prohibiting:the deposit of waste in a receptacle or place provided for the purpose of such waste,provided that reasonable care is taken to prevent the creation of litter.”

The campaign also held a public meeting for the Ballygall/Finglas Place/Glasanaon Road/Westpark areas, which was held on Sept 5th in Griffith Community Hall with over 60 residents in attendance. Cllr. Dessie Ellis (SF), John O’Neill (ISN) and John McCamley (SP) addressed the meeting. The speakers gave an overview of the campaigns progress to date, an update on the campaigns court proceedings against the Council in the Supreme Court and discussed practical ways of organising more effectively on the streets. There was a lively discussion about organising on-going resistance and a decision was made by the residents to establish a roster to streamline placing the rubbish in the bin trucks.