HOUSEHOLDS could be charged extra for putting the wrong waste into recycling bins with new contamination detection cameras.
Bosses at waste management firm Panda are trialling cameras in their trucks in a bid to reduce contamination levels in recycling bins.
Secretary of the Irish Waste Management Association, Conor Walsh, said: “Panda has successfully trialled the system in the past and is now rolling out the Contamination Detection System to all their waste collection vehicles.
“Other waste companies are being encouraged and financially supported by REPAK to trial the system, with a view that they will also roll-out the system to their fleet of Refuse Collection Vehicles, based on the results of their trials.”
Mr Walsh explained that bin inspectors in other countries place brightly coloured notices on contaminated bins which “shames people publicly”.
He continued: “We don’t expect our members to refuse to lift contaminated bins, as happens in other countries, but if a customer gets feedback three or four times and decides to keep contaminating their recycling bin, they can expect to pay more, as the recycling bin is offered at a discounted price, but it has to contain clean, dry and loose recyclables.
“We truly believe that Ireland can be the world leader in recycling and we believe that this new system will play a big part in that.”
Some 74 per cent of the waste placed in general waste bins in Ireland is recyclable if placed elsewhere, according to a recent EPA study.
The Technical Director explained: “The general waste bins are the most expensive bins, so we will use the photographs from those bins to encourage people to bring glass to the bottle banks, textiles to the textile banks, electrical goods to the electrical stores or civic amenity sites, all of which are free to use, and we will encourage people to put food and garden waste in their brown bins and to put clean paper, cardboard, plastic packaging and metal cans into their recycling bins.”
Mr Walsh said the Panda trial shows that people react “very positively” to the feedback.
He said by the end of the trial 95 per cent of recycling bins were uncontaminated – up from about 50 per cent at the start of the trial.
Mr Walsh continued: “We know that the vast majority of people make a real effort to recycle, but it can be confusing, so our members will provide feedback directly to their customers by way of photographs of their waste with advice on materials that do not belong in the recycling bins and advice on materials that do not belong in the general waste bins.”
A Panda spokesperson said they have “no plans at present” to charge customers who incorrectly use their bins.
They said: “We have been working on this new technology over several years to help encourage consumers to change habits in relation to recycling.
“We have been working on this new technology over several years to help encourage consumers to change habits in relation to recycling.”
Mr Walsh added: “In order to meet our EU targets, Ireland must increase recycling rates from 41 per cent in 2022 to 55 per cent this year.
“Failure to do so will result in EU fines and that is money that would be better spent on housing, healthcare, leisure centres, etc.
“The IWMA has formed a Task Force that has spent two years working on increasing recycling rates and we believe that we are half way to bridging the gap, but we need to engage the public to fully close the gap.
“Everybody that puts anything in a bin has a role to play, so that’s all of us.”
Panda chiefs said they’ll continue to use the data to improve recycling levels, confirming: “We have no plans at present to charge customers who incorrectly use their bins, but will instead use the information gathered with this technology to help educate customers and increase overall recycling levels.
“We have been working on this new technology over several years to help encourage consumers to change habits in relation to recycling.”
