The rubbish collection company Panda will increase service charges for customers in North County Dublin from this Saturday.

The Irish Independent reports that thousands of customers will see their half-yearly service charge go from €67.50 to €70 this weekend.

In a statement issued to Newstalk, Panda said it is "communicating its customers in the Fingal area to provide an update on its 2025 service options and pricing".

According to the rubbish collection company, the new pricing structure that is being implemented is to "encourage users to avail of the brown compost bin and the green recycling bin as much as possible".

Additionally, Panda said a 50% increase in charges for waste companies over the past year has led them to revise their charges for customers.

"We are only passing on a portion of this cost to green bin users," a Panda spokesperson said.

They also claim the recent 6% increase in the national minimum wage has also had a "knock-on effect" for the rubbish collection industry and has resulted in "increased costs".

"The overall charge for customers is increasing by an average of €20 for the year, which equates to an average increase of about 6.5%," the spokesperson said.

"Panda has made every effort to keep the pricing adjustment as modest as possible.” 

Inflation

On Newstalk Breakfast, the Irish Independent's personal finance editor Charlie Weston said customers will feel the brunt of the price hikes as other costs rise.

"It comes on top of insurance [prices] going up through the roof – your home insurance and particularly your motor and your health insurance are going way up," he said.

"Groceries continue to rise, electricity prices are due to go up because of State charges - essentially levies and charges. Broadband is going up."

Mr Weston said the increase in bin collection fees may not be "huge" but will be part of an "ongoing cost".

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Feature image: A Panda recycling van, Nic Mac Innes/Photocall Ireland.