Fergus McAllister, Mayo Green Party chairperson, urged the new Westport Town Council to oversee the introduction of a brown bin collection for the town as soon as possible so that bio-waste such as grass cuttings or food can be separated and utilised, instead of going to landfill.
In Westport, he said this bio-waste could be used to produce compost which would help keep the town blooming for the annual Tidy Towns competitions. A brown bin collection and communal composting proposal was part of McAllister’s manifesto for Westport when he was running for the town council. It has now become a matter of more urgency following the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement today of a review of landfill licences that will restrict the proportion of biodegradable waste allowed in dumps. For urban areas with a population of 1,500 and more, the agency says that it expects the separate collection of bio-waste in brown bins.
“Westport needs to get its act together in this area, particularly given the huge volume of biodegradable waste produced by hotels and restaurants,” McAllister said. “Brown bins and communal composting would help cut down on waste costs for these businesses and for householders. It would also help us, as a community, maximise the value of waste instead of just dumping it, and it would help reduce greenhouse emissions.”
