Galwegians wishing to dispose of their Christmas trees have three days left to avail of the Galway City Council’s Christmas Tree Recycling service. However a local councillor has claimed the service is leading to “illegal dumping”.
The council is operating two such services - the City Council depot at Merlin Woods, Doughiska Park and at the Barna/Lough Rusheen City Council depot on Barna Road. The charge to have a tree recycled is €1 and both services run from 9am to 3pm until this Saturday.
However the council ran five such depots last year and Labour councillor Niall McNelis has criticised City Hall for only running two this year, claiming that it is leading to illegal dumping.
“Along Grattan Road and Ballyloughane beach, trees are being dropped off as this is where they have been done in the past few years,” he said. “This will now lead to illegal dumping and higher costs in the long term for council.”
Cllr McNelis has called on the council’s parks department to facilitate collection points across the city or “at least to put up signage quickly to explain the change this year.”