Madam, - In the course of a defence of the new "pay-by-weight" system for refuse collection, Ms Mary Ruane, a spokeswoman for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said it was in line with the council's policy to "incentivise" people to recycle waste (Liveline, RTE Radio 1, January 12th).
This is rich indeed from someone speaking on behalf of a Council which last year suddenly closed down a widely-used recycling depot in George's Place, Dun Laoghaire without providing an appropriate local alternative.
Since then, despite a promise last September to provide a facility in Glasthule, nothing has happened.
During the same programme Ms Ruane referred to the green bin (for papers, cans, etc.) as a free service. It is no such thing. It is part of the council's waste management programme for which residents have been paying through the nose since charges were first introduced in the year 2000. These charges have increased steadily ever since and will, no doubt, continue to do so under the new system. - Yours, etc.,
M.D. KENNEDY, Silchester Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin