Resistance Pays ... Cork Anti-Bins

August 2004

Figures released by Cork City Council confirm that the non-payment of bin charges remains very high despite the Council's bullying tactics and the introduction of a ‘pay or we won’t collect’ policy. In 2003, almost 35% of the city’s population were still refusing to pay the exorbitant tax. The figures (from the Council’s own records) released in advance of a Freedom of Information request also confirm that non-payment peaked in the aftermath of the victory by Householders Against Service Charges (HASC) arising from its campaign of dumping uncollected domestic rubbish outside Cork’s City Hall.

In 2001 over 40% of people were refusing to pay and this climbed to just under 49% the following year (2002). In 2003, following a convenient change in the law, city councils in Dublin and Cork renewed their efforts to introduce the ‘double-tax’. This led to widespread threats and bullying by the city council. Nevertheless the records show that the Council’s effort to claw back the level of non-payment was successful only to the extent that it dramatically increased the ‘waiver’ scheme contribution, which rose to 35% of all monies received! The message is, it pays to resist …

Freedom of Information Figures for collection of Bin Tax in Cork — 1999-2003

 

YEAR

COLLECTABLE

% COLL

% CASH

% DISC

% W/ OFF

% WAIVER

1999

4,739,000.00

63.56

41.24

2.88

5.89

13.55

2000

602,500.00

67.21

44.21

2.74

5.91

14.35

2001

8,588,250.00

59.86

42.01

2.98

1.81

13.06

2002

11,345,150.00

51.30

35.03

2.65

2.45

11.17

2003

19,440,350.00

65.27

39.05

1.99

1.24

22.99

This article was first posted to indymedia.ie and was discussed there

[A Personal report from a Workers Solidarity Movement member, these reports are posted to the Ainriail list when first written]

To the News of Irish struggles Index