Councillors have called for a review of the local authority's waste management strategy.
COUNCILLORS have called for a review of the local authority’s waste management strategy.
Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy (FF) raised the issue at a meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Committee when he complained about the decision to close local bring centres on Mondays.
He said: ‘The idea was sold to us on the basis that the staff would be able to go out on litter patrol and carry out clean-up jobs throughout the county.’
But he maintained that while the idea might have been good in theory, it is not working in practice. And he said centres, like Castletownbere, need to reopen on Mondays.
Cllr Danny Collins (Ind) agreed saying: ‘There are a lot of tourists around that have nowhere to put their rubbish. This is a no-brainer. The centres should be open on a Monday.’
The Independent councillor said: ‘People are throwing their rubbish on the roadside. They need a proper outlet and the Council should provide that.’
Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) expressed his disappointment that ‘despite all the promises’ in relation to the upgrading of the bring site in Skibbereen, work has yet to be carried out.
Louis Duffy, the Council’s director of environmental services said: ‘One more day would add significantly to the cost and we don’t have the budget.’
He said if people can’t use the service on the days that the centres are open he would like to hear from those people and learn their reasons why. Mr Duffy explained that the level of usage, in terms of tonnes, was particularly low on Mondays and that the tourist change-over in rented accommodation is typically at the weekend.
Divisional manager Clodagh Henehan said Castletownbere brings in ‘the least tonnage’ in terms of waste. However, she did say the Council would look to see if the hours, and days, of opening could be changed.
But she made the point that bank holiday closures on a Monday were also a factor in their decision.
This week RTÉ broadcast a report showing that between 2015 and 2016 Cork County Council spent €8.78 per person on waste services, almost half the national average of €17.22.
