Councillors hit out at lack of bin services in rural areas

MAYO councillors have hit out at the lack of bin services in rural areas, with one citing one example of a constituent who travels 40 miles to dispose of her waste.

Members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District have insisted that rural dwellers should be entitled to a bin collection service after Cllr John O’Malley raised the matter at their monthly meeting.

Cllr O’Malley told the meeting that residents in parts of Aughagower, Sraheen, Drummin and other areas in West Mayo had no access to a bin service, forcing many residents to travel long distances to dispose of their household waste.

“There are people out in Sraheen, and they’re quite willing to play for bin collection but they can’t get it,” he told the meeting.

Cllr O’Malley said he knew of one constituent in the area who has to travel to the landfill in Derrinumera near Newport to dispose of her rubbish.

The Independent councillor said any waste disposal company with a license should ‘serve all the people’.

“Those people are entitled to a bin collection, in my opinion, and it’s not fair to put them under pressure that they have to dump it someplace else, or burn it, or whatever else, all the things that’s against what we’re preaching to them.”

Cllr Chris Maxwell agreed with Cllr O’Malley, saying it was ‘nonsensical’ that bin trucks refused to serve areas which are already served by oil lorries.

Cllr Sean Carey, Cathaoirleach of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, supported his colleagues remarks, telling the meeting that oil lorries were serving the village of Doohoma even though refuse trucks will not enter the area due to the condition of the road.

The Belmullet-based councillor said he knew of one constituent who was bringing her waste to her daughter that lives 40 miles away.

“If they provide the service, they should provide it to everyone,” Cllr Carey added.