Householders in the Dublin area are likely to face charges of between £150 and £200 from next year for the collection of waste from their homes. The new charges are to be included in the estimates to be published next month by the area's four local authorities.
The charges would be in line with the "polluter pays principle" and the regional waste management strategy, which says that the cost of implementing it "shall be borne by the waste producers", including householders.
The strategy, already adopted by the four local authorities, envisaged the introduction of "use-related charges on a consistent basis across the region". However, whether councillors will vote for such charges is an open question.
Mr Matt Twomey, chairman of the waste steering group, said disposal costs had quadrupled in recent years. The challenge facing the local authorities was to implement the strategy to reduce the need for more landfill sites.