"Spread the word about positive 'Blue Bin' changes" -Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin representatives on Strabane District Council’s ‘Waste Management Committee’ have urged householders in the District to maximize the opportunity now available to dispose of glass and small  electrical goods in the blue recycle bin.

In a joint appeal for people to ‘spread the word’ about the change, Councillors Kieran Mc Guire and Jay Mc Cauley said,

“It is clear that many people in the District are still unaware of the wide range of glass and small electrical  goods items that are now permitted to go into the blue recycling bin as from Monday 3rd September.  These are:
•   Mixed Glass – all colours and sizes of bottles and jars e.g. wine, beer, spirit bottles, sauce bottles and jars, jam, coffee jars, medicine, perfume aftershave bottles.  Residents are reminded that all bottles and jars must be empty and rinsed out and the caps and lids can be left on.  Broken bottles and jars can also be accepted.

•   Small Electrical Appliances (Maximum size – an average household toaster or kettle) e.g. toasters, kettles, hair dryers, irons, electric toothbrushes, shavers, radios.

“Attempting to dispose of many of the above items, in an environmentally friendly way, has been extremely problematic for people for various reasons so, at a purely basic level, this extension in ‘items suitable for the blue bin’ will be a great practical assistance to householders and business outlets alike.

“Given the considerable tonnage of glass and small electrical items that have had to be sent to Landfill every year up until now, this change will also hopefully have a substantial positive impact in reducing the major costs of waste disposal being incurred by Council and in turn by local ratepayers.

"Under the Landfill Allowance Scheme, Strabane District Council has been set a target of decreasing Landfill from 10,650 tonnes to 7,330 tonnes this year. So embracing these new changes and stepping up recycling overall is essential to ensure that this target is met so as to offset the potential of incurring fines-which would be £150 per tonne if the target is exceeded.

 “So, there is a lot at stake and we would ask everyone to maximise the opportunity of this initiative and to spread the word among family, neighbours and friends about the additional items that you can now blue bin."