THE HIGH Court is expected to rule before the end of the month on a row between waste management companies and Dublin City Council that could have implications for an estimated €30 million worth of contracts.

Late last year, waste management companies Greenstar and Panda challenged a decision by the city council to change the existing waste collection permit system.

The local authority wanted to move back to a system where it, or a contractor appointed by it, collected waste from households, rather than allowing a number of licensed operators to do this work. The High Court heard the case in October and is expected to rule on the issue either this week or next.

The council recently awarded the “green bin” contract, which is for the collection of recyclable material to an independent operator, Greyhound.

The value of that deal was €15 million a year. On that basis, industry sources say the more general waste collection contracts could be worth at least €30 million annually.

Dublin City Council is the waste management authority for the entire capital.

Panda and Greenstar took separate cases against the council, claiming that its decision to change the rules was an abuse of its dominant position, which is contrary to competition law.

The court heard the cases consecutively.

It is understood it will hand down separate rulings on the same day in both cases.