RENEWED CALLS FOR the installation of solar bins in Shannon have been made.
Arguing that the leave no trace policy was “not working,” Cllr Donna McGettigan proposed the installation of solar powered bins in Shannon. “Solar powered compactable bins increase capacity so reducing the number of street bin collections which helps towards achieving environmental benefits,” she said.
When she last issued a request for the addition of solar bins in Shannon in September 2021, the Sinn Féin representative was told they would be “contrary” to policies already in place. The current stance is that they could “deprive neighbouring towns”.
In response to her most recent motion, tabled at this month’s sitting of the Shannon Municipal District, senior executive engineer Tom Mellett said that Clare County Council supported and were members of Leave No Trace Ireland. “It is important that this personal responsibility message continues to be promoted in Shannon and indeed throughout Co. Clare. Leaving No Trace includes using the litter bins provided. However, where there are no litter bins or the litter bins are full it is important that waste is disposed at the nearest litter bin provided or taken home”.
Visits to local schools have been arranged by the Council’s environmental awareness officer to highlight a litter prevention message and the role of personal responsibility.
Mellett added, “While Solar bins do allow for increased capacity and therefore fewer bins they also increase the weight per bin which would need to be considered in the context of our current collection capabilities. In Shannon we currently collect from a significant number of bins spread throughout the town and adding to this may deprive neighbouring towns of current levels of service. If we are to introduce higher capacity bins an evaluation will be required which may result in fewer bin locations while increasing the volume collected. An Assessment will be carried out on the feasibility of introducing solar powered bins based on need, value for money and practicality around collection”.
“It is all going back to the leave no trace policy and it’s not working,” Cllr McGettigan commented. “It’s great to have a policy but it’s not enforced, areas of Shannon like the Town Park are full of rubbish, these policies need to be enforced,” she said.
Support for the introduction of the solar bins was voiced by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND). “Leave no trace means nothing to some people, they leave as much trace as possible”.
Legislation needs to be changed, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) maintained. “This is an answer we’ve all been getting to motions, one of the biggest problems we have and in politics in general, if you make a mistake with legislation surely to God you can admit it and make a change to it. It’s not working, do we leave all the rubbish pile up in Shannon or do we supply a bin”.
Meanwhile, at the same meeting, Cllr Flynn proposed the installation of a litter bin adjacent to the new bus stop in Drumgeely. “All other Bus Shelters had bins installed and I presume this was an oversight,” he noted.
A replacement bin has been ordered, the senior engineer confirmed. “Once this is received, we will arrange instalment,” he outlined.
Flynn remarked, “We’ve gone so bad in Clare County Council that we can’t even get a bin. I can’t understand why it has taken so long, maybe it is because my name is on it, I’ll tell you I won’t let up on this. Drumgeely is the oldest part of Shannon, the residents there don’t deserve to be forgotten”. His motion was seconded by Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF).
