Claims that Cork City Council has 'unwritten' policy not to install more bins

There is a “reluctance” to install new bins in Cork city, according to some local representatives, with one representative suggesting that it is an “unwritten” policy not to install more bins.

It comes after a Blackrock local complained to The Echo that no bins will be installed as part of a new park in the area.

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy said that it was an “unwritten” policy of the council not to provide new bins.

There are four reasons for this, he said: Worries around illegal dumping, the staffing required to empty all the bins, a desire to encourage people to bring their rubbish home, and some worries about fires being set in bins.

While this council policy is not an official one, Mr McCarthy said that in his time as a public representative, it is difficult to get a new bin put in when a community requests it.

He added that the provision of new bins would be among one of the main things he is asked for as a councillor. A Cork City Council spokesperson told The Echo: “In relation to cleansing operations, we would put a bin in a location if merited. A location would be monitored and assessed on a case-by-case basis.”

“In recent years, the Cleansing Department of Cork City Council has installed over 90 solar compacting bins throughout the city centre,” the council spokesperson added.

“This has helped in terms of the visual appearance of the bin and also from an operational sense, with less requirement to the servicing of the bins.”

However, Sinn Féin councillor Michelle Gould said: “We’d have huge issues with a lack of bins on the northside. They’re always talking about encouraging people to keep the place clean and picking up dog fouling, but there’s no bins to put it in.”

Ms Gould added she had a motion calling for additional bins at council, and that a bin in their area had recently been taken away when refurbishments were happening “and they promised it would return, but it hasn’t yet”.

Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said: “There’s somewhat of a reluctance among officials to install additional bins without considering staffing levels and the need to regularly empty them. New bins are being installed though, and also bins that were previously removed are replaced.”

He added: “One area in particular that bins are a focus of attention is in relation to dog fouling. The city has a dog fouling committee and one of the things being considered by the committee is identifying dog walking routes and to make sure there’s bins along the route.

“The city is also about to open its first-ever dog park in Ballincollig, where dogs can be let off their leashes, under supervision. That will also be served by bins for dog fouling and other waste.

“There are cases of ‘ghost bins’ as well, where a bin was removed. Sometimes this is where a litter bin was being used for domestic refuse in the past, which isn’t their purpose.

“When that’s the case, there is a commitment from officials to return these bins where one used to be.”