Calls on SDCC to extend Mattress Amnesty

Following from the success of this initiative I am calling on SDCC and the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton T.D. to extend this initiative and provide the necessary funding to allow for other large household waste products to also be dropped off as part of an Annual Large Household Waste Amnesty at designated approved drop off locations. Other items might include large furniture, washing machines, fridges etc. I understand that the junk collection services that was previously provided free of charge by SDCC at a cost of €500,000 per year and  at a frequency of once in three years to homes located in RAPID areas and once in every five years to all other areas, was costly and not frequent enough. An annual service is required to deal with the sheer amount of illegal dumping that is occurring. An Annual Large Household Waste Amnesty would also tackle the issue of rogue waste collectors doing door to door collections only to illegally dump this waste in our beautiful country side.

“As it is a uniform problem in most parts of the country, it is time the Government and the Minister’s Department looked at initiatives to support local authorities in dealing with this problem. This funding must ensure that initiatives to provide greater flexibility for local authorities to offer free services can get up and running, especially in disadvantaged areas. “I refer to civic amenities available for one-off use. Local authorities used to collect large household items once or twice a year, but that has largely been done away with in many parts of the country. Initiatives of that type need to be reintroduced if we are to prevent largescale illegal dumping of washing machines, fridges, furniture and mattresses. “Rather than paying for the clean-up afterwards, there should be a pro-active programme, as part of which local authorities would provide that service,” concluded Deputy Curran.