DCC sees sense on bin bag ban after hard-fought local campaign

TD for Dublin Central Marie Sherlock has today welcomed the decision by Dublin City Council to indefinitely defer its plans for a bin bag ban in the North Inner City.

 

“I welcome the news that Dublin City Council is to indefinitely defer its plans for a bin bag ban in the North Inner City. Today’s decision is a huge credit to the hundreds of people who attended our public meeting in June, our rally in July, and a recent rally just last Monday at City Hall.

 

“It should have never come this far for Dublin City Council to realise their plans were unworkable. We all recognise the need to address waste management in our city, to tackle illegal dumping, and have a system that serves our city well. But this plan was ill thought out, did not consider the needs of the community, and was lacking in ambition for the sort of waste management service that our city deserves.

 

“As a result of our campaign, Dublin City Council initiated a public consultation, and it is apparent that this consultation reflected the overwhelming depth of feeling from the community. Consultation should have never come after introducing these plans – it should have been central to such a significant change. It is clear many residents could simply not accommodate large wheelie bins or accept a poor caddie collection service. The changes did not reflect the unique nature of some inner city streets with small red brick terraced housing, small footpaths, and few back garden spaces.

 

“Dublin City Council must now engage with central Government to address the clear gaps that exist in the role of local government over waste management. We need to see investment in innovative solutions such as shared community collection, enhance the accountability of waste management companies to local authorities, allow for single waste management operators in local authority areas as per my Waste Management Bill 2026 which Government parties voted down just last week, and enhance the services that are provided at our bring centres.

 

“We now have a real opportunity to reform waste management once and for all.