MU: Fly tipping condemned

Councillors across Mid Ulster have condemned fly-tipping incidents in the borough.

With waste sites closed at present, Council members received an update on waste management at the monthly meeting of Mid Ulster District Council.

Councillors were informed that a three bin collection service is being maintained. The Chief Executive also told councillors that fly tipping within the area is slightly higher than last year but it is being managed.

He also informed councillors that bulky waste collection and household recycling centres remained closed to the public.

Commenting on the matter Councillor Frances Burton said it is “not the time to start clearing out the garage”.

“If recycling centres are to reopen, there is, to my knowledge, no-one coming to take the waste away from us, so how long could we take stuff in before we are full and forced to close again,” the DUP representative asked.

“I think it is sad that people are getting frustrated. We are collecting blue, black and brown waste bins and are doing our best. It is not a time to start clearing out the garage.”

Commenting on fly-tipping, the councillor reported the dumping of dead sheep and calves in Ballygawley.

“In relation to fly tipping, in Ballygawley our staff had to go out and collect dead sheep and calves from the side of a road,” said Cllr Burton.

People leaving these things sitting at the side of the road do not care who has to come behind them and clean it up.”

In response to Cllr Burton’s question on capacity at recycling centres, the Chief Executive suggested, when it is appropriate a phased reopening of waste facilities would be considered.

He also said that Council can continue to deal with waste collected from bins but would be unable, at present, to dispose of plastic, rubble and white goods sufficiently and as such, it would take longer to get back to full operating capacity.

Torrent councillor Malachy Quinn told the chamber “dumping is getting worse”, while Sinn Fein’s Niamh Doris said people who are fly-tipping are hurting their communities.

“I echo Frances’ remarks,” said Cllr Doris. “If other people can hold on to their rubbish there is no reason you can not do the same and be responsible during this time.

“I also want to thank the staff that are going out to deal with this. They have families to think of themselves.”

A brief while later, Councillor Wilson asked if green bags, for household caddies that food waste is put into before being transferred to the brown bin, could be delivered to people who used to get them at recycling centres.

Cllr Wilson was advised by a council officer that the implications of this suggestion would have to be assessed.

He was also informed that the council officer will be in touch about the matter when it has been reviewed.

Mid Ulster District Council’s most recent figures on fly-tipping incidents suggest a decrease in fly-tipping year-on-year but have to be viewed against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2019, the Council recorded 14 incidents of fly-tipping while in March 2020 11 incidents were recorded.

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