Recycling centres in Athlone and Mullingar have been temporarily closed in order to facilitate a changeover of management.
The centres closed their gates to the public on Tuesday this week, amid concern that the withdrawl of this important service would adversely affect customers at a busy time of year.
Cllr John Dolan pointed out that the centres provide a “vital service”, and queried how long the sites would remain closed. The council’s director of services Martin Murray explained that, following a public tender process, a new operator had been selected for the sites, which had been operated by Oxigen for six years. He estimated that it should take “a couple of days” to complete the handover.
In a statement, the council said it was working to minimise the closure period.
“Westmeath County Council wishes to advise the public that the recycling centres in Mullingar and Athlone are closing temporarily to facilitate the change of the council’s operator on these sites.
“Westmeath County Council is endeavouring to minimise this period of closure and regrets any inconvenience caused. In the interim there are private facilities available in both towns for the provision of recycling facilities.”
