Anti-Bin Tax Campaign

The Anti-Bin Tax campaign was established to oppose the introduction of bin charges by local authorities in Ireland. The campaign centred largely in city areas, in particular Dublin. The campaigns were locally based with some co-ordination in the Dublin area. Non-payment was the tactic used against the charge.

In Autumn 2003 after years of mass non-payment the Dublin local authorities began non-collection; leading to protests and blockades of bin trucks. In the High Court Fingal County Council sought an injunction and the jailing of Joe Higgins and Clare Daly. These jailings escalated the campaign and for a number of weeks refuse collection in the Dublin area was severely disrupted due to protests. In total 22 people were jailed. In the local authority elections following the non-collection phase of the campaign Anti-Bin Tax candidates did well. The Socialist Party's Clare Daly, Mick Murphy, and Ruth Coppinger were elected as councillors in Dublin, as was independent Joan Collins.