COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 09, 2024

MOTION NO.5

MOTION: Councillor N. Fennell

This council calls on the Chief Executive to increase the number of bottle banks in the county.

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council aims to improve recycling within its administrative area. Fostering community-based recycling plays a pivotal role in advancing the overarching goal of sustainable waste management and environmental preservation. The Strategy for the Provision of Local Community Based Recycling Facilities in South Dublin County Council 2023-2029 sets out the objectives and specific actions to do this.  The strategy was reviewed by the Environment, Public Realm and Climate Change SPC during the course of 2023 with the new strategy agreed by the SPC at the November 2023 meeting.

With respect to the provision of bottle banks, our Waste Management & Compliance team are continually trying to identify new sites. Under the Strategy, it is primarily planned to review Council owned locations for suitability as potential sites as well as engaging with communities, elected representatives and members of the public to identify suitable locations. Each site is assessed against specific criteria which includes but not limited to access for servicing the banks (overhead services, space for turning/parking etc.), proximity to housing (greater than 50m, otherwise consent/consultation with homeowners is required) and supervision of the site.

Unfortunately, meeting these criteria has proved challenging in the past. For example, in the previous Strategy (2015-2021), 31 potential sites were rejected prior to delivery stage. (61% rejected following objection by the owner of the site & 39% objected to at public consultation stage).

Despite, these challenges over the past 12 months, South Dublin County Council has successfully introduced 7 no. of new bottle banks sites. (Newcastle Service Station, Waterstown Park, Thomas Davis GAA Club, Tandy’s Lane Playground Car Park, B&Q Liffey Valley, Dodder Riverbank Car Park & Corkagh Park GAA Pitches Car Park).  In addition to this, it is planned to introduce an additional site at Airlie Park in the coming months.

We will continue to explore potential new sites as well as retaining and improving the existing recycling sites. This includes improving cleaning/maintenance arrangement, painting/artwork and installation of new signage (See attached photo)

There are currently 74 bring bank sites within South County Dublin. These sites vary in location from public car parks, including private shopping centres and community centres as well as sites in open/green spaces on council grounds. Of these 74 sites, 51 have bottle banks available for the recycling of glass. For information, the exact locations of our bring banks can be found via our interactive Bring Bank Map at https://www.sdcc.ie/en/services/environment/recycling-and-waste/bring-banks/.