International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

in case study areas, and an increase in the quantity being burned by those who
engage in the activity after the introduction of charging: 144
111
“The remarkable feature is the 42% of the full sample and the Clonakilty
sample who say they burn household waste. In addition, the number who say
that they are burning more [since the charging scheme was introduced], at
33%, is practically double the number who say that they are burning less, at
17%. This important finding backs up reports that that there has been an
increase in burning occurring since the introduction of the pay-by-weight
regime. Although the numbers of complaints about burning recorded in data
from the West Cork Laboratory are small, they reveal an increase in
complaints since the introduction of the new charging scheme, from an
average of one per year between 1998 and 2002, to seven in 2003, 15 in
2004 and nine in 2005. The numbers undoubtedly understate the true extent
of burning as people are likely to be reluctant to complain. Nevertheless, they
suggest that illegal means of waste disposal, such as burning, are likely to
increase in response to such charges.”
This suggests that the manner of implementation may be affecting the balance of
costs and benefits to Ireland of implementing PBU.
7.7 Implementation Costs
Little information is available on the costs to operators in Ireland of implementing
PBU schemes. For the waste collection system as a whole, anecdotal evidence
suggests that costs may have fallen as presentation rates have fallen.
An associated cost implication of delivering the PBU system, is that in order to
incentivise separating the waste into segregated waste streams at the household
level, the corresponding infrastructure in terms of recycling and recovery facilities
have to be available to the waste collector following collection of the waste, whether
the facility is managed by the same operator, or whether the facility is that of another
operator. Many Local Authorities pointed to a lack of recycling and recovery
infrastructure as the reason behind a delay in the provision and roll out of PBU and
separated waste collection services.
7.8 Response from Public and Industry
One study assessed public responses to PBU in two communities. The key results are
shown in Table 7-1. The majority feel that charging is fair. The authors speculate as to
reasons for views that charging is unfair: 145
144 Sue Scott and Dorothy Watson (2006) Introduction of Weight-Based Charges for Domestic Solid
Waste Disposal, Final Report Prepared for the EPA by the Economic and Social Research Institute,
(2000-DS-6-M1).
145 Sue Scott and Dorothy Watson (2006) Introduction of Weight-Based Charges for Domestic Solid
Waste Disposal, Final Report Prepared for the EPA by the Economic and Social Research Institute,
(2000-DS-6-M1).
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes