Grass cuttings and felled branches from neighbourhoods clean-ups will no longer be collected by the Galway City Council, the council chief executive, Brendan McGrath, has confirmed.
Mr McGrath made the statement at a recent council meeting. He said that last weekend's collection of bags of green cuttings from various neighbourhoods was a "once-off action by the council, which will not be repeated in the future".
Last week's collection was secured by Independent Galway City East councillor Terry O’Flaherty, following a motion she tabled before council.
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“I am full of admiration for people who give up their time to carry out clean-ups in their area and show such pride in their neighbourhood," she said. "I would appeal to people who have been leaving out this green waste for collection by the local authority to stop doing so from now on, as it just won’t be collected. Grass cuttings left out in plastic bags for a long period of time sometimes end up rotting. Due to this they could potentially end up going to landfill which is not an ideal situation."
Working proactively with residents
According to Cllr O'Flaherty, the city council has undertaken to "work proactively with residents" and Community Employment Schemes to keep public areas looking well. This includes an offer to set up composting facilities in various areas.
City Hall has asked people not to prune landscaping on public lands as this can cause damage and disease to plants. Instead, the council can, if requested, arrange for two days per estate - one in spring, and one in autumn - where a mulcher would be brought to the area, and the greenery could then be taken away or used in the locality in an environmentally friendly way.
