Usage of recycling banks ‘increased substantially’
THE usage of rcycling banks across South Dublin County “increased substantially” in 2020, with around 7,000 tonnes of glass collected during the year.
In a typical year, according to South Dublin County Council, the quantity of glass collected and recycled is in the region of 5,000 tonnes.
The usage of bring banks has increased across the county
However, in a reply to a question by Clondalkin councillor Francis Timmons at this week’s full council meeting, the council said that the quantity of glass collected in 2020 is expected to come close to 7,000 tonnes.
The usage of bring banks has increased across the county.
In its reply, the council said: “During 2020 with pubs and restaurants closed for much of the year due to Covid-19 restrictions, the level of usage of the glass recycling facilities increased substantially with tonnages to the end of year expected to come close to 7,000 tonnes for the year.”
As part of his question, Cllr Timmons (Independent) asked council management how it intends to “increase these much needed” facilities?
According to the council, it put in place a five year recycling strategy in 2016, a document which will be reviewed in 2021 and a new five year strategy put in place.
“The current strategy identified the need for an examination of deficits in the provision of the recycling service for glass and in particular the North Clondalkin area has been identified as an area where additional bring sites for glass are required”, the council said.
“Over the course of the past three years a total of eleven sites, some public and some private, have been identified as suitable for use as bring bank sites in the North Clondalkin area.
“These sites were all examined further, some required permission from the private landowner to develop as bring sites and some required consultation with local residents where proposed sites were withing 50m of the nearest house.
“To date it has not been possible to proceed with any of these proposed sites.
“In those cases where permission was required from the private landowners it was not forthcoming.
“Where public consultation was required as set down in the recycling strategy, the consultation established that local residents did not want these facilities to be provided close to their homes.”
The council concluded that issues outlined in relation to bring banks across the county will be examined through the review of the five year strategy, and in conjunction with the council’s Climate Change Action Plan.
A “different approach” will be required if additional glass recycling sites are to be secured into the future, the council said.
It was also noted that the provision of community recycling facilities have been included in the planning of both Airlie Park and Tandy’s Lane in Lucan, with facilities expected to be in place in 2022.
In relation to the recycling of textiles, of which between 400 and 500 tonnes are collected each year, the council said: “In addition to the network of public bring banks it is also the case that textile recyclers have arrangements in place where they can place their containers on private sites, in return for a yearly fee, and this obviously provides additional capacity as well as a higher level of coverage in the provision of these facilities.”
