Preparations are underway for the introduction of a new improved Pay as you Go bin charge payment system in south Dublin.

The abolition of the current bin tag is planned before the end of 2008.

Council officials have confirmed that the bin tag system is to be replaced by a Pay As You Go system that will operate in the same way as a Pay As You Go mobile phone.

A customer’s bin will only be lifted if there is enough credit on their account.

Each black bin will be fitted with a unique chip that will tell the computer on the refuse truck which customers bin is being collected.

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The computer will automatically read whether there is credit in the account or not.

If there is enough credit, the computer will instruct the lifting arm that the bin can be collected.

If there is not, then the computer will not allow the arm to lift the bin.

From the end of August, South Dublin County Council customers will be issued with a label that is to be attached to black bins.

This will be done on a phased basis.

All customers will have received the label by the end of October 2008.

As soon as customers receive the label, they should attach it to the black bin and present their bins on notified days so that the registration can take place quickly.

The labels will allow the council to identify and register bins.

"The system is designed to make things as simple as possible for customers," said John Quinlivan, Senior Executive Officer.

"The abolition of the tag will remove problems with theft or loss of tags or forged tags,

"And with the introduction of more payment options for customers we aim to ensure that the South Dublin Refuse Service continues to be the best in the County," he added.

(PR)