Costs set to rise at Cork city's waste disposal site

Costs are set to increase for waste disposal at the Tramore Valley Park Civic Amenity Site in Cork city, prompting concern that this could lead to a rise in illegal dumping.

The council has also said that it intends to move to a cashless system “in due course”, despite the fact that 43% of all transactions are currently completed with cash.

A new fee model, from Monday, August 24, is designed to “ensure long-term sustainability of vital waste and recycling services at the site… amid significant increases in waste management, disposal, and processing costs,” Cork City Council stated.

The new structure will replace the existing vehicle-based charging system with a “simpler” flat entry fee and a per-bag charge, it added.

The new charging system at Tramore Valley Park CAS, which collected 3,443 tons of waste last year, include a flat €4 charge upon entry; a €5 per bag charge for green waste; a €6 per bag charge for refuse; €4 for recycling visits – a €1 increase; and €2 per recycled paint tin – a €1 increase.

A customer arriving in a car with four bags of green waste will pay a total of €24 to dispose of the waste - the €4 entry fee and €20 in per-bag charges.

The new structure aligns more closely with the charging model operated elsewhere.

A Cork City Council spokesperson said: “Like businesses and families, local authorities are experiencing significant cost increases across every aspect of our operations – including waste management, disposal and processing.

“In the last three years, refuse disposal costs have increased by over 10% per annum. The cost of disposing of timber is due to increase by 43% later this year and the cost for disposal of paint has risen by 20% in recent months.

"The new charging structure is intended to create a fairer and more transparent system while helping to address rising operational and disposal costs,” and will support the long term sustainability of the facility, the council said.

They added that the budget will remain under regular review given the volatility in costs for waste processing and disposal and the continuing uncertainty around sectoral costs.

Social Democrat councillor Niamh O’Connor said: “The increased clarity to the pricing structure is welcome. I understand the city is facing increased costs and is trying to offset those with a price increase but I hope that won't result in an increase in the fly tipping issues we are seeing in certain parts of the city.”

She noted with concern the intended move toward cashless payments, saying: “We need to keep civic amenities as accessible as possible to everyone and reducing ways you can pay reduces accessibility.”