Public littering at the bottle banks in Stranorlar is causing frustration with the local Tidy Towns committee.
It is feared that the unsightly display of household waste, bin bags and boxes around the recycling bins could harm the chances of the hard-working Ballybofey and Stranorlar Tidy Towns committee around adjudication time.
The bottle bank is visibly located on a busy road on the site of the old fire station in Stranorlar. There have been issues of litter around the facility ever since it was installed by the Council.
Chairman of the committee, Cllr. Patrick McGowan said that people are leaving their bags and boxes behind after recycling their waste and creating an eyesore in the town centre.
“It’s something that’s quite annoying. This is a free recycling centre but unfortunately people are taking their cardboard boxes and bags and throwing them away here too. That is just out and out littering. It can’t be acceptable.
“It’s very visible on our National Primary Road. We have tourists passing through on their way to Sliabh League and Malin Head and seeing this.”
Cllr. Patrick McGowan
Cllr McGowan said there are fears that the rubbish piles pose safety risks and could attract vermin.
“There are a lot of children passing by there and it’s unsafe. It’s unsightly and not part of what is planned for the area.”
The B&S Tidy Towns committee have met to address the issue in recent weeks. Cllr McGowan is calling on the Council to install a CCTV camera and a large sign to warn the public that the area is being monitored.
He said that if the facility is continually abused then it may have to be removed, just as other bins have been taken away in areas such as Castlefinn.
Cllr McGowan said the misuse of the bins is frustrating to the Tidy Towns group and to the people who use them in the correct way.
“Our message is that people are very welcome to use the recycling facilities that are there.
“We have a working arrangement with various groups who are cleaning up areas of the town and we are trying to get housing schemes and road to take responsibility for themselves.
“A number of residents in Ard McCool are looking after this particular area. They have done a great job with clean-ups, planting and weeding, but people keep coming with rubbish and that needs to stop.
“We don’t want people to get fined, we just need a better sign and a camera in place.”
Cllr McGowan said action will be taken on those who do not remove their packaging from the site.
“The people that abuse the system will be caught. There are other cameras in the town that the council have put up to catch litter louts.
“We and the gardai will track down these people who are leaving rubbish. The facility could have to be removed if it continues, which is negative for the people who are genuinely using it to recycle.”
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