Together with Cllr John Dolan, Cathaoirleach, Westmeath County Council, 'Benny' the Brown Bin launched the local authority's competition to win the cost of a household’s waste collection for a year.
The winner of the competition will have his/her household waste collection charges paid for a year (subject to a maximum of €380 ). The competition will run in the local newspapers and on the Council's Facebook page during the month of November.
Commenting on the initiative Cathaoirleach John Dolan noted the environmental importance of using the brown bin.
“The brown bin is for the collection of all your household food waste - it can save you money because you become more aware of the food you waste, it’s better for the environment because you avoid sending food waste to landfill where it produces harmful greenhouse gases, so instead it’s brought by the waste collector to a facility where it is used to produce high quality compost – three excellent reasons for using the brown bin."
The brown bin is for the collection of food waste and any type of food waste can be placed in it whether raw or cooked including meat, poultry, fish and bones. The bin can be lined with paper or by using a compostable bag with the EN 13432/seedling logo. Plastic bags are not allowed to be used as bin liners in the brown bin as they are made from petrochemical plastics that do not break down in the composting process but contaminate it.
“This competition is part of the council’s Environmental Awareness Programme and is aimed at raising awareness of the brown bin, the legal obligation for householders to segregate their food waste, and the legal obligation for waste collectors to provide the brown bin service in agglomerations with a population of 500 people or more," said Ruth Maxwell, Environment Department. "The Environment Department have been liaising with the waste collectors on this promotion and their support for the campaign is appreciated."
The competition commences in local newspapers week commencing November 5 and on Facebook from November 12. Both competitions run until Friday, November 30.
