'Game changer' as new waste compactors installed in Dublin
Ottoline Spearman
Dublin City Council has installed new waste compactors on Fownes Street Upper and St Stephen's Green in an attempt to rid pavements of plastic bags.
Residents and businesses in the 90-street pilot area in Dublin's inner city will now be permanently banned from leaving rubbish bags on the pavement for collection. The council said that people should contact their waste collector to discuss the new options for waste collection.
This is expected to remove 1,000 plastic bags from the streets per day. "With 3,500 city bins and the new compactors, the message is clear; there is no excuse for littering in Dublin," the council said.
There are plans to extend the scheme further in a phased basis in the near future.
Legislation requiring the use of bins instead of refuse sacks came into force in 2016; however, thousands of Dublin residents and businesses were given a derogation from the rules because their properties were unsuitable for wheelie bins, the Irish Times reported.
Streets in the city centre, or inner suburbs with no gardens or no direct back access, were mostly affected.
The council has long sought to rid the streets of bin bags, which are often torn apart by seagulls, vermin, or household pets, leaving litter strewn across the roads.
The Irish Times said that the problem was made worse by the deposit return scheme - where people were encouraged to return their empty plastic bottles and cans - as people had started ripping open bags to retrieve these items in exchange for cash.
Businesses are also being reminded of their legal responsibility to keep the areas outside their premises clean and free of waste, and the council is encouraging them to sign up to Dublin City Council’s Waste Charter, after which they will receive an information pack, cleaning rota forms and a new graphic they can display in their premises.
Dublin City Council on Friday also launched its new litter Prevention and Awareness Campaign ‘No More Rubbish Excuses’, as part of the Council’s 3-pillar Waste Management Strategy to deliver a cleaner city.
Speaking at the launch, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, said: "Keeping Dublin clean is a responsibility we all share. The introduction of these new waste compactors is a game-changer.
"We are investing in a cleaner, more sustainable Dublin, but this is a partnership, so we ask every resident, business, and visitor to do their part and help us make a real difference."
The council has also invested in additional staff and vehicles to enhance cleaning zones and tougher enforcement. Enforcement has been stepped up with new litter wardens, including dedicated night patrols, issuing fines to anyone who litters.
