Greyhound Announce Instalment Plan for Upfront Charge

Many local residents have contacted me expressing their concern about being asked to pay a €100 up front charge before the end of next month. 

Since I received the information of this charge last week, I called on Greyhound and Dublin City Council to introduce an instalment plan for local residents who will have difficulty paying this upfront charge.

I am glad Greyhound have taken residents' concerns on board and have now introduced a 50:50 instalement plan. 

Please find further information in their press release below:

"Greyhound responds to Dublin city customers with instalment pay plan

Greyhound Recycling and Recovery customers struggling to pay their €100 Annual Service Charge in Dublin city now have the option of paying the charge in two instalments.

The company has announced that customers can now opt to pay €50 up front and to defer the second payment of €50 until 1st July 2012 if they sign up to become Automatic Top Up customers before February 15th.

Customers who chose not to sign up to the Automatic Top Up easy pay service must pay the €100 Annual service in full by 15th February 2012 and also put their account in credit to meet bin lift costs in order to maintain their Greyhound bin collection service after that date.

Customers wishing to pay the €100 Annual Service Charge in two instalments by signing up to the Automatic Top Up offer can do so by visiting www.greyhound.ie or by returning the sign-up form attached to their invoice. The offer closes on 15th February 2012.

“We have listened to the concerns expressed by our customers across the city and we have also heard the views voiced by the members of Dublin City Council on behalf of constituents,” said Michael Buckley, joint Founder and CEO of Greyhound Recycling and Recovery.

“We understand that many households are financially constrained and struggling to pay bills. The Automatic Top Up service is the only option open to Greyhound customers to alleviate any difficulties in meeting the €100 Annual Service cost and to maintain a bin collection service,” he said.

“Greyhound Recycling and Recovery has already committed to honouring the waiver scheme for 33,000 customers, to maintaining the €100 Annual Service Charge for 2012 and to keeping bin lift fees at their current rates up to at least July of this year,” Mr. Buckley continued.

“Greyhound Recycling and Recovery is the most competitively priced operator in the Dublin market,” he added.

The company confirmed that it had consulted with officials at Dublin City Council on its proposals to respond to the concerns of customers regarding the pre-paid model that it operates."

More information on Bin Service Changeover

I received further information from Dublin City Council this morning in relation to collection days and the changeover of service to Greyhound.

I have written again to the City Manager to express my concerns about the manner in which the changeover has taken place, the poor way information has been presented to residents, and the lack of an option to pay the €100 charge in instalments over the course of the year.

All existing customers should have now received their letter from Greyhound explaining the changeover, they would have also received a new collection & a payment card. Please let me know if this is not the case in your area.


Residents who had no collection with DCC will have to contact greyhound directly on 1890 98 99 98 to set up an account (these residents will not receive a letter).


Customers have 30 days to pay the €100 services charge (this can be paid in instalments over next 30 days).


Customers must also put credit on payment card covering cost of collections required.


Existing Customers will receive  collections during the 30 days however the cost of same we be deducted once credit is put on the card.


Only Customers who pay the €100 services charge & put credit on the payment card will receive a collection after the 30 days has expired.


*** Bin collection days have changed (Calendar attached with your information pack) ***


In the North West Area our collection day is now WEDNESDAYS


This Wednesday 18th Jan  all black & brown will be collected


Next Wednesday 25th Jan all green bins will be collected


Customers who had an arrears agreement in place with DCC should continue to pay same.


Existing DCC customers will be sent a final bill (collection from Oct 2011 to 13th Jan 2012) it will be issued by Greyhound as they will be collecting monies & arrears  on behalf of DCC. 


Please give me a call or send me an email if you have any questions, concerns or enquiries about this information and I will do all I can to help. 

Residents Left in the Dark on Bin Service Changeover

The handling of the transfer of Dublin City Council bin services to Greyhound Recycling has ‘left many residents in the dark’ and I am now calling for changes to payment options available.

I can appreciate the logistical effort involved the transfer of this service but the lack of timely information for residents has not been acceptable. Most of the details were only made available by the City Council this week and I have been informed today that many residents will not receive their information packs until Tuesday, after the transfer of service has taken place.

This is a particular concern for elderly residents who may have been unaware of any changes until they check their post today or early next week.

Given that many residents will have to register an account with Greyhound, this information should have been made available to each household well before the handover of service.

Also, an issue I have serious concerns over is the upfront payment of a €100 service charge for a large bin or €80 for a small bin, within 30 days of Monday January 16th.

People with waivers will not have to pay this charge but people who are used to having the option to pay their service charge in instalments will find this a lot to pay in one go, especially given the time of year.

I have raised this point with the City Council and with Greyhound and I am calling again for a half year or quarterly payment option to be put in place.

I already wrote a blogpost with further information on the changeover. Please get in touch with me if I can clarify any further points or answer any questions.

Changes to Bin Service - Latest Information

I have been in contact with Dublin City Council and Greyhound since the new year to clarify some of the details of the changeover of the household bin collection service.

As you may know, Greyhound will be taking over the collection of bins in the area (and for much of the city) from next Monday 16th January.

All households in the area should have received an information pack from Greyhound and the Council or will receive one by the end of this week. This information pack includes information on how to register with Greyhound and switch over your service without delay.

Much of this information is now available online here.

If you have any questions in regard to the changeover you can contact Greyhound's call centre from Monday at 1890 98 99 98 or email them on dublincity@greyhound.ie

Please contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie if you have any further questions or if I can clarify any points with the Council or Greyhound.