The Galway City Council (Segregation, Storage and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Bye-laws 2019
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Why have Galway City Council adopted the Galway City Council (Segregation, Storage and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Bye-laws 2019?
Illegal Dumping in our city, as well as being unsightly, causes significant harm to the environment and to wildlife. It is also a potential fire hazard and risk to public health. The dumping of waste, particularly food waste, can attract vermin which has health and safety consequences in addition to the risk of injury from the contents of the waste. The clean-up costs of illegal dumping result in a huge cost to the taxpayer.
In an effort to combat illegal dumping and thereby help protect our public health, environment and wildlife, Galway City Council enacted the Galway City Council (Segregation, Storage and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Bye-laws 2019.
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Where can I get a copy of the Bye Laws?
Click here to view the Bye Laws -
How do the Galway City Council (Segregation, Storage and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Bye Laws affect me?
Every household and business in Galway City must comply with these Bye Laws.
The purposes of the Bye Laws are to:
· Help you to manage your waste in an environmentally acceptable manner.
· Ensure that your waste is only given to an authorised household kerbside waste collector or brought to an authorised waste facility.
· Ensure your waste is correctly segregated.
· Reduce the incidences of illegal dumping and backyard burning.
· By correctly managing your waste you will:
(a) Make a contribution to meeting the climate challenge.
(b) Improve the quality and quantity of recyclable material collected.
(c) Reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and incineration.
(d) Help conserve the planet’s finite resources.
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What do I have to do to comply with the Galway City Council (Segregation, Storage and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Bye Laws?
Section 2 of the Bye Laws sets out the obligations in relation to household and commercial waste. For Example: Under Section 2.1 Obligation to Participate in a Waste Collection Service, you need to be able to prove that:(a) You have a contract in place with an authorised waste collector (bin sharing is permitted for which “Proof of Agreement” form is required. These are available at www.galwaycity.ie/bin-share
or
(b) You can demonstrate regular use of an authorised waste facility. i.e. provide proof of receipts.
Whichever option you chose, you must be able to provide documentary evidence, such as receipts, statements or other proof of payment. For Bin Sharing arrangements an approved application from Galway City Council is required.
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I have received a letter from the Council requesting details on how I dispose of my waste. What do I do next?
Please go to the website www.galwaycity.ie/mywasteinfo and complete the self-declaration link. The following information is required:
· Your address and your contact details.
· Information relating to your authorised waste collector, if you have a kerbside waste collection service.
· Details of the waste facility you use, if you bring your waste directly to an authorised waste facility.
· Details of bin-sharing agreement, if you share your bins with a neighbour or family member.
Alternatively, you can email the information above to wastecollection@galwaycity.ie or by post to Environment Department, Galway City Council, City Hall, College Road, Galway.
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Why is the Council asking me for information on my waste collection service?
Under the Galway City Council (Segregation, Storage and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Bye Laws, all holders of waste must have an authorised waste collection service or dispose of their waste at an authorised waste facility. Galway City Council is requesting information on your waste collection service so that we can verify that you have a waste collection service and are complying with the bye-laws.
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Do I have to tell the Council what I do with my waste?
Yes. Under the Galway City Council (Segregation, Storage and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Bye Laws, which came into effect in February 2019, all Galway City residents and businesses are now required by law to:
1. Show paper or electronic proof of a regular bin collection service by an authorised waste collector or
2. Show proof of receipts if waste is brought directly to an authorised waste facility or
3. Show proof of a bin sharing arrangement if bins are shared with a neighbour or family member. To avail of this option, a ‘Proof of Agreement’ form must be completed. This form is available from Galway City Council’s website www.galwaycity.ie/bin-share or by contacting the Environment Department at 091-536400.
Please note that in accordance with Section 14 of the Waste Management Act, 1996, as amended, the provision of false or misleading information is an offence.
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Will my information be kept confidential?
Your data will be stored and processed in line with Galway City Council’s Data Protection Guidelines under GDPR.
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What if I don’t comply?
If you fail to comply with any of the requirements of the bye-laws it may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (Maximum €75) being issued by Galway City Council or a member of An Garda Síochána. It may also lead to a fine on conviction of up to €2,500.
OUR INSPECTORS ARE CURRENTLY MONITORING YOUR AREA. AVOID A FINE BY STAYING WASTE COMPLIANT. -
How can I check if a waste collector is authorised?
Authorised waste collectors have a waste collection permit, issued by the National Waste Collection Permit Office. To check if they have a valid waste collection permit, a householder needs to contact the National Waste Collection Permit Office on 057 9373710 or email contactus@nwcpo.ie
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The following waste collectors are authorised to collect waste from your property in Galway City:
BARNA RECYCLING www.barnarecycling.com
CITY BIN www.citybin.com
WERS www.werswaste.ie
WALSH WASTE www.walshwaste.com
It is the responsibility of the waste generator to ensure the waste collector they engage with is compliant. A person could be fined up to €3,000 for using an unauthorised waste collector.
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I share bins with a family member. Is that allowed?
Bin sharing is allowed in certain circumstances. To avail of this option, a ‘Proof of Agreement’ form must be completed and approved by Galway City Council. This form is available from Galway City Council’s website www.galwaycity.ie/bin-share or by contacting the Environment Department at 091-536400.
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What is the Section 34C register?
Galway City Council receives information from authorised waste collectors operating in Galway city. In accordance with Section 34C of the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended, Galway City Council has established a ‘Register of Persons Availing of a Household Waste Collection Service’. This register is updated on a regular basis using the information received from the authorised waste collectors operating within the city.
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Where can I get more information on waste management?
More information is available on www.mywaste.ie or www.galwaycity.ie/household-waste-disposal