In the past couple of years, bottle banks in Mountrath, the Pike-of-Rushall and Camross have all been removed.
It means that between Roscrea and Portlaoise, only bottle banks in Castletown and Borris-in-Ossory remain.
That’s a large area to be serviced by such a small number of bottle recycling facilities and it was an issue that was raised at last week’s Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District in Laois County Council.
The discussion followed on from a motion from Mountrath-based Independent councillor James Kelly who asked the council for “an update on the provision of bottle bank facility in Mountrath as the Castletown facility is at maximum capacity”.
A response was given to Cllr Kelly from the Environment Section of Laois County Council that they will “review all sites available to them in Mountrath and identify an alternative location for the unmanned bring bank facility”.
Cllr Kelly told the meeting that he had been working with the council to find a new location but that finding a suitable site is proving difficult.
“The problem can often be what’s left behind – cardboard, plastic etc,” he said. “And there’s opposition anywhere we go.”
Cllr Kelly was supported by Cllr Conor Bergin who said that “every town and village should have a bottle bank facility … we’re trying to encourage recycling and clamp down on illegal dumping”.
“Locations have to be found. It’s not something that can be taken out and not replaced.”
Private companies own and manage the bottle bank facilities with a site sourced locally – but Cllr Ollie Clooney that it “has to be made more attractive for people to take them … the money is very little”.
“The location is always an issue,” added Cllr Kelly. “There are noise levels and if it’s near schools or homes and people are coming at different times, there can be objections. There can be a lot of noise with them.”
SEE ALSO – Death occurs of Mick Clear, a giant of the the Rosenallis community and beyond – Laois Today
