COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 14, 2008

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor T. McDermott

That the receptacles used in the future Litter Bin Replacement Programme be multi-compartment bins facilitating the separation of the different categories of material deposited. These would facilitate at least the same level of separation as is supported by the Council's own domestic collection service. At a minimum there would be a separate compartment for material similar to what is permissible in the Green bin, the Brown bin, Glass and everything else.  
This policy promotes a consistent message, encouraging the general public to adapt the behaviour being encouraged in schools and in the national Race Against Waste campaign.

REPORT:

The method currently used in providing the litter bin collection service involves each of the 700 (approx) litter bins being emptied into one of four side-loading collection vehicles.  The collected waste is subsequently taken to Ballymount baling station where it is baled along with other municipal waste for placing at Arthurstown landfill.  In order to provide the type of service suggested in the Motion, the method of collection and disposal of the waste would have to be changed completely.  If litter bins are to be multi-compartment type containers  it will be necessary to either collect the different waste streams separately from each other, or redesign the collection vehicles to have multi-compartment bodies.  It would also be necessary to dispose of the different streams of waste in different locations.  While it is the aim of this Council to maximise the percentage of waste recycled, the Environmental Service Dept does not currently have in place the full range of resources which would be necessary for separation of the recycleable fraction of waste which is deposited in the County's litter bins.