Search Results for 'Waste'

Galwegians are getting getting into the habit of recycling, according to figures released this week by WEEE Ireland.

A group of local residents recently attended an upcycling workshop in Athlone, as part of Westmeath County Council’s aim to raise awareness of waste prevention.

So do you know yet? Have you made up your mind if so-and-so deserves your vote? Have you decided if you can trust your candidate to really care or has he/she the look of a chancer about them? Do you feel respected when you hear them talk or do you feel a just a little bit patronised. Do you feel that whether you vote or not will not impact on the result. Or your life? Or the life of those around you? Apart from those who are actively involved and engaged with the parties and candidates, there are many who feel that voting does not matter and so they don’t bother. So there is a dilemma. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?

This is the 17th year of An Taisce’s National Spring Clean, Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative. The campaign is organised by An Taisce and funded by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Wrigley Company. Colour coded bags for recyclable waste are supplied by Repak.

Door to door inspections, covert cameras at dumping blackspots, and a free phone ‘litter line’ to encourage more people to report illegal dumping are all part of Mayo County Council’s major crackdown on fly-tipping in 2015.

The chairman of Castlebar Tidy Towns Ger Deere has warned local residents to be vigilant as the annual phone books are being delivered. Mr Deere said this week: “I am asking that local residents may keep an eye out to see if their neighbours’ phone books have been taken in and if not, that they may take them in on their behalf. Some houses where the phone book is left outside too long may fall victim to burglars. Furthermore, considering the strong rain and wind experienced recently, they may become wet and end up being blown around the local area causing serious litter problems.”

The lack of public bins in the city has led to one frustrated councillor admitting that she would flout the law in relation to dog fouling. Independent councillor Catherine Connolly outlined to the chamber how there is not one bin on the walkway between Nimmo’s pier and Grattan Road. ‘’People are expected to carry their dog’s poo all along this route, it is simply too much, it’s dangerous and disgusting, I would not do it,’’ she admitted. Director of services Tom Connell outlined how all bins in the city are now owned by the council. He acknowledged the importance of bins and said the situation was constantly being monitored by the local authority’s litter management unit. ‘’The litter management crew are doing a fantastic job in what is an ever challenging area.’’ Mr Connell said that bins were being replaced but it was a gradual process due to financial costraints. Fine Gael councillor Peter Keane was also irritated about the bin issue. ‘’With Galway being a premmier tourist destination, bins are so important, I am disapointed but not surprised that there is no money available for bins at the moment. As far as I can see there are none at all in the Blackrock area. We simply have to ringfence money for bins,’’ said Councillor Keane. Meanwhile, Councillor Ollie Crow was concerned about bins around Eyre Square and the general condition of the area. The Fianna Fail councillor believes that Eyre Square needs more attention and said the walkway in the middle of the square was in very poor condition. He said it was imperative that litter wardens be employed on Sundays in the run-up to Christmas ‘’They are vitalto have the city running on an effective basis.’’ Tom Connell admitted that Eyre Square needed more work and he said the council was currently assesing the issue.

Local councillor John Keogh has welcomed new dog litter bins in the Monksland/Bealnamullia areas of Athlone. “I’m pleased to see that dog litter bins have been put up. I have been a long time trying to prevail on Roscommon County Council to put these up, thankfully it has now happened. Dog foul is extremely dangerous to young children and can cause a host of medical complaints... I hope that the erection of the dog litter bins will now encourage owners to clean up after their dogs,” he said.

Westmeath County Council is challenging Westmeath householders to reduce their food waste by a quarter under the Stop Food Waste Challenge.

Householders who reduce their food waste by 25 per cent could save as much as €60 a month on their bills.