Introduction of waste charges and public resistance
Citation:
Louise Dunne, 'Introduction of waste charges and public resistance', Centre for Urban and Regional Studies. Trinity College Dublin, & the Faculty of the Built Environment, Dublin Institute of Technology. Bolton Street, Journal of Irish Urban Studies, Vol.3 (Issue 2), 2004, 2004, 53-62Download Item:
Abstract:
This paper reviews the potential for problems regarding public acceptability of environmental
taxes. It examines the issue through a case study of the municipal waste charge protests in
Ireland in 2003 and 2004. The example of these public protests against new waste charges
demonstrate the necessity for good advertisement and PR when introducing a new tax. Rather
than explain the polluter pays principle and simultaneously providing a good selection of
options for recycling and composting, some municipalities moved straight into the new tax
(for a service that had originally been free of charge and covered by general taxes). Outbreaks
of public revolt occurred, with people blockading the streets and refusing to let the collection
trucks down their road. Thus, even the people who had paid up were not getting their waste
collected. The paper, which is part of ongoing work this area, seeks to identify the reasons
why there was so much resistance to this charge and examine the lessons for the introduction
of other environmental taxes and charges in the future. The literature on the various types
of municipal waste charge is discussed with a view to seeing if pay-by-weight tends to be
more politically acceptable as there is a real incentive and control over the amount of waste
collected for landfill or incinerator.
Author: Dunne, Louise
Publisher:
Centre for Urban and Regional Studies. Trinity College Dublin, & the Faculty of the Built Environment, Dublin Institute of Technology. Bolton StreetType of material:
Journal articleCollections
Series/Report no:
Journal of Irish Urban StudiesVol.3 (Issue 2), 2004
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Full text availableKeywords:
Urban geography -- IrelandISSN:
16491920Metadata
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