Waste charges increase, a ‘stealth tax’ says Conway

THE 13.5% increase in waste disposal charges at the Central Waste Management Facility in Inagh following the application of VAT has been labeled another “Government stealth tax”.
Councillor Martin Conway leveled the charge this week after Clare County Council passed new VAT charges to domestic and commercial customers following a recent European Court of Justice ruling.
He claimed the Government could have helped local authorities absorb the new VAT charges by providing additional funding. He also alleged the new waste charges effectively discriminated against domestic users because commercial operators are entitled to claim the VAT charge back.
“The new charges place an unfair burden on householders who have already been hit with a number of Government stealth taxes and will also adversely affect those on low incomes,” he said.
Clare County Council has opted to leave its standard charge for recycling facilities unchanged at €4 per car, in order to encourage recycling.
Under the new charges introduced on August 1, the cost of disposing one bag of rubbish (50 litres) will increase from €5 to €6, while the charge for over 10 bags will jump from €90 to €135. A car or tractor and trailer will also increase from €90 to €135 per tonne. Commercial operators, trucks and ejectors will now be levied €124.85 per tonne between 2,001 and 7,000 tonnes; €107.83 per tonne between 7,001 tonnes and 16,000 tonnes and €96.48 per tonne over 16,001 compared with €80, €65 and €55 respectively.
Non-hazardous industrial waste will see a €61.05 hike per tonne, while timber in recyclable condition goes up from €95 to €110 per tonne.
All the new charges include the hike in the Government landfill levy from €20 to €30 last February and the new VAT rate at 13.5%.
Director of services, David Timlin, explained the new charges had to be introduced as a result of the European Court of Justice ruling.
He told The Clare Champion the new schedule of charges might be reviewed in full as part of the council’s Budget Estimates later this year, depending on funding. He also pointed out the new charges would not apply to commercial water charges in the county.
Moreover, the new VAT rate also applies to off-street parking in urban areas such as the car parks in Abbey Street and at Dunnes Stores. However, Ennis Town Council has taken a decision to absorb the 13.5% VAT hike for off-street parking until the end of the year.