A number of syringes found in a discarded rubbish bag in Ballymun in September Source: Facebook

WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANY Greyhound has said that it may no longer collect bin bag for “health and safety” reasons.

The company, Ireland’s largest disposer of household waste, says it is “reconsidering its policy” with regard to the bags.

Recently a collection worker’s hand was pierced by a syringe that had been discarded in a bag (which led to a court action against Dublin City Council), while a toddler in Ballymun also cut her hand on a syringe in a discarded bag in September.

The collection of bags in Dublin was to be banned from July following the introduction of EU legislation to that effect (many streets in Dublin use marked or branded bags rather than wheelie bins for rubbish collection).

However, lobbying action from certain councillors led to 900 of 1,000 streets earmarked for waste collection being given a derogation from that order.

“Bin bags have been a source of risk to our crews with syringes, broken glass and other sharp instruments found discarded in bags,” says John Brosnan, Greyhound’s managing director.

We have a duty of care to our employees and must reassess, as a matter or urgency, the dangers to which they are being exposed. Local children are also being exposed to risk.

For some time now, we have been urging people to switch to bins which are more convenient; cleaner and present less risk to our collection crews. We don’t understand why some local representatives are neglecting workers and public safety.

“There is also an issue with counterfeit bags,” he added.