Rising waste costs push up local rates

Due to a rise in the cost surrounding waste management there will be a further rise in the local rates.

The Fermanagh and Omagh district council have made a 2.95 per-cent increase to both the domestic and non- domestic rates in the area. 

Council officials came to the decision after they reviewed the collection and disposal of waste, finding that there has been a significant increase, meaning the cost will have to go up. 

It's expected that the cost to collect waste will rise by 8 per-cent this year, jumping from £2.8 million to £3.1 million. The disposal of waste is also likely to rise by 5 per-cent, going from £4.9 million to £5.1 million.

This is a total of £478,457 of which the cost of collecting and disposing waste will have gone up in one year. 

The council says that this has all come about following a new legislation that is requiring separate collection arrangements for food waste which will have a significant impact on the cost. 

These figures mean that there will also be an increase to the local rates signifying an adjustment to ratepayers bills. However, a regional rate is still to be struck in Stormont therefore they are unsure how much it will actually be.