Weekend collections aim to ease bin backlog

Uncollected bins on Dublin streets should be cleared by early next week, according to the four Dublin local authorities.

Dublin South County Council said any bin bags which remained uncollected from the protests would be accepted free of charge at its Ballymount recovery facility, which normally only accepts household furniture, white goods and hazardous wastes.

The council bin lorries are also working overtime and collections will take place on Saturday to clear the backlog.

According to a council spokesman it is hoped to have the remaining refuse cleared before Monday.

The council will attempt to inform residents in advance of an unscheduled collection but have asked that bins be left out.

Where bags are used the council has asked that they be double-bagged.

In Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown the council is also hoping to have the bins emptied by the end of the weekend. Refuse will be accepted at Ballogan transfer station and again the council has said bins and bags should be left on the street.

In the Dublin City Council area bin men are also working overtime to shift the remaining refuse and have asked for rubbish to be left out suitably protected.

A council spokeswoman said "linesmen" will travel the routes in advance of unscheduled services and advise communities of when to expect the lorries.

Dublin City Council does not have facilities for customers to bring in their own waste.

Fingal County Council said it was not blockaded to the same extent as other councils and consequently bin services are now operating "relatively normally".

Meanwhile, yesterday the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, launched the first of 109 new "Bring Centres" for Dublin, which between them have capacity to recycle an additional ten million glass bottles and jars each year.

The 109 centres will be divided with 25 in the Dublin City area, 28 in Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown, 37 in Fingal, and 19 in south Dublin. It brings the number of glass recycling facilities in Dublin to just over 360. Yesterday's announcement was the first part of a €2 million investment planned over the next two years to provide 400 more glass recycling facilities across Dublin.

"Our aim is for everyone to have ready access to a glass recycling facility so that, along with their household green bin collection of newspapers, cardboard and cans, recycling will be easy for all Dubliners."

Mr Matt Twomey, the Dublin assistant city manager said the four local authorities warmly welcome the commitment which was funded by the Department and Repak, the industry recycling scheme.