Bulky waste and ‘dumping tourism’

Sir, – Quick! Somebody tell the mayor of Europe’s most densely-populated city that free collection of bulky waste encourages “dumping tourism” and causes all of France to be exposed to prosecution by the EU (“Free collection of bulky waste cannot be reintroduced as it could encourage ‘dumping tourism’”, News, August 3rd).

Liam Bergin, executive manager of Dublin City Council’s environment division, makes me chortle.

Paris has been offering free collection of bulky items twice weekly for a long time and nobody has challenged its legality. The ultra-conservative interpretation of EU directives by Irish bureaucrats needs to be challenged more, especially when the private sector ends up benefitting at the expense of social services provision. – Yours, etc

ANDREW LALLY,