‘Continue recycling’ urge bin lobby group

As the ABC Bin Action Group celebrate the decision to end the four weekly bin collection trial in Banbridge, they have issued a statement urging ratepayers to keep going green.
The  public protest by BAG (Bin Action Group), Say No To 4 Week black bin collections, gather at the Kenlis Street Car Park  © Edward Byrne Photography INBL1446-256EBThe  public protest by BAG (Bin Action Group), Say No To 4 Week black bin collections, gather at the Kenlis Street Car Park  © Edward Byrne Photography INBL1446-256EB
The public protest by BAG (Bin Action Group), Say No To 4 Week black bin collections, gather at the Kenlis Street Car Park © Edward Byrne Photography INBL1446-256EB

The vote, which will see homes return to having their bins emptied every fortnight from April, was taken at the ABC Shadow Council Services Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 4, before later being ratified by the full ABC Council.

Emphasising that the action group was never opposed to recycling, the statement said: “Now that our focused objective of having the two week black bin collection reinstated in the Banbridge district has been achieved, we would encourage everyone to continue recycling, and where possible recycle more if you can.

“We were never opposed to recycling, as we made clear on numerous occasions, despite Banbridge District Council continually lambasting us for not supporting their ludicrous scheme on the pretext that it was a recycling matter. We held firm to our beliefs as it was just common sense.

“We were totally opposed to ratepayers having to store general waste at their back doors for four week periods and the council’s offer of bigger black bins was really another ludicrous response as bigger bins equal bigger smells, a greater risk to health and a greater chance of attracting flies, vermin and all sorts of things which would promote disease.”

Praising the ABC council for their decision to return to two weekly collections the statement continued: “We will be keeping an eye on future developments in waste collections. We will not be going away and the idea of remaining as a ABC Watchdog Group is being discussed internally.”

Criticising the council for not listening to their ratepayers and stressing that elected representatives must listen and act for the electorate, the BAG continued: “The ratepayers fought back and won.

“You can be 100% sure that if we had not spoken out they would have railroaded the four week scheme through as all councillors supported it from day one and it was they who implemented it in the first place. When the mood of the people changed against them that is when we saw a few councillors changing their opinions.

“Now that we can relax and focus on recycling, let’s keep this area ahead of the rest of Northern Ireland if not the whole of the British Isles in recycling.

“We can do it if we work together in harmony.”