Waste disposal contractors in Galway city are to be allowed dump commercial refuse at the county's only landfill near Ballinasloe for at least a couple of more weeks.
A ban by Ballinasloe Urban Council on Galway city commercial waste being dumped at the Poolboy landfill prompted private waste contractors to place a picket on the dump earlier this month. The action of the contractors sparked off a refuse collection crisis throughout the city and county with garbage being left uncollected on the side of the streets.
A temporary lifting of the quota system placed on contractors using the landfill brought about a temporary respite in the dispute last week when refuse collections were resumed throughout the county.
Acting assistant county manager, Mr Tom Kavanagh, has sought to bring about a settlement of the crisis for this year at least by suggesting to Ballinasloe UDC that they consider allowing an additional 15,000 tonnes of refuse to be landfilled at Poolboy this year on top of the 50,000 tonnes already agreed.
Contractors are to be asked to pay an extra £28 a tonne for the additional refuse and will have a quota system introduced on a sliding scale in order to give them time to find alternative landfill for commercial refuse from both the city and county.
Mr Kavanagh said the situation would be reviewed at the end of the year.
However, members of the UDC agreed this week to only defer the introduction of quotas at the landfill until such time as they have considered an up-to-date report on the financial implications of the new tonnage proposals.