Antrim and Newtownabbey: 'Additional food caddy liners available' reminder after complaints aired at council
Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have been reminded that additional food caddy liners are available on request to residents who receive assisted bin lifts.
Speaking at the council’s Operations Committee on Monday, Macedon Independent Councillor Stafford Ward said he has received complaints over green caddy liner bags.
Cllr Ward said there are elderly and disabled people who have walked to a leisure centre to get new supplies. He also asked if it would be possible to return to placing food scraps into brown bins without caddy liners.
An officer said if a resident receives an assisted bin lift, additional bags can be requested and delivered.
Cllr Ward reported a problem of caddy bags ripping, adding: “They are poor quality. If you do not double up, maggots start to come. They are all over the place.”
Each household in Antrim and Newtownabbey receives two free rolls of food caddy liners per year, 60 in total, delivered by brown bin collection crews, one during July or August and another in December. Additional liners can be collected free of charge by residents from designated council facilities.
Food waste can be placed directly into a food caddy or brown bin. Caddies can be lined with newspaper or food waste placed in kitchen roll.
In December 2024, councillors agreed residents would receive two free rolls of caddy liners annually with further liners available for collection at council and community facilities after members approved a reduction in a bid to cut costs.
It is anticipated this reduction would result in a saving of £70k instead of supply on demand, reducing the cost from £185,000 annually.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter