COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, January 10, 2022
MOTION NO.3
MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell, Councillor L. O'Toole
This committee requests the Chief Executive agree to carrying out a review of our public litter bins. Further to question raised and answered in previous meeting (October 21) and Given that "The issues of size, colour and shape of litter bins were not considered in that review" has been made clear, we now ask that our bins/design are considered for a review if its confirmed that our bins have not changed since their initiation.
QUESTION NO. 28 QUESTION:
Councillor L. O'Toole
Over the last 18 months+ we all experienced challenges in our parks in particular the demand put on our public litter bins/litter bin service. Can then Chief Executive confirms to members as to when litter bins (their size, colour, shape etc) were last reviewed.
REPLY:
A review of the litter bin service was carried out under the remit of the Environment, Climate and Public Realm SPC commencing in November 2016 and concluding in February 2017, with reports presented to both of those SPC meetings. This review examined a wide range of issues including the number of bins in service, the configuration of the collection routes, unauthorised use of litter bins, the issue of dog fouling waste, smart solar powered bins and a number of other issues. The issues of size, colour and shape of litter bins were not considered in that review. The operation of the litter bin service remains under constant review due to the changing nature of the demands on the service, increasing waste tonnages arising from servicing of bins and other issues. The 2017 report from the litter bin review then led to a trial of solar powered, smart street litter bins being carried out from November 2019 to May 2020 in the Rathfarnham area. Reports on this trial were then presented to the Environment, Water and Climate Change SPC at both the May and September 2020 meetings of the SPC. Reports and reviews listed above are available at the following link https://www.sdcc.ie/en/services/our-council/council-meetings/strategic-policy-committees/
REPORT:
The review carried out by the Environment, Public Realm and Climate Change SPC in 2017 was a comprehensive one which examined all aspects relevant to the provision of the litter bin service. The report was presented to the SPC in 2 stages and was agreed and at no time was it suggested that the issues of size, colour or shape should be included in the terms of the review. Reports and reviews listed above are available at the following link https://www.sdcc.ie/en/services/our-council/council-meetings/strategic-policy-committees/
The issues of colour and shape of the bins provided are aesthetic issues which do not affect the provision or the capacity of the service in any way. The issue of bin size or capacity is one which arises from time to time and this can be resolved by the provision of additional units if deemed necessary.
There are in general 2 bin types used by public realm, a black and gold cast iron bin used in many town centre locations and a mild steel bin dark green in colour in other locations. It should be noted that other non-standard bin types have also been used in other locations such as in conjunction with public realm improvement or village improvement schemes (for example at Manor Road in Palmerstown, and along the Zip project in Tallaght Village, both completed in recent years). It remains open at all times to the Public Realm Section to procure and use other bin types if so desired.
It is not proposed to carry out a further review of litter bins at this time, however litter bin design/aesthetic can be included in future Litter Bin Reviews. Information relating to the provision of new bins, replacement of existing bins, the demand for additional units, the frequency of the service, operational issues, tonnage of waste collected, cost of the service and problem locations continues to be collated on an ongoing basis and this information can be made available to elected members as they require it.