Write a commentFrom Monday the 5th of July 2010, Newry and Mourne District Council is updating their Civic Amenity Sites to Household Recycling Centres. This will bring about many changes, the main one being that Householders will have to sort their waste into recyclable and non-recyclable waste before bringing it to the sites.
Mr. Jim Mc Corry, Director of the Councils Technical and Leisure Services Department has advised that the Council has to target the waste at the Household Recycling Centres, as it was estimated that last year 10,000 tonnes of waste was put into the general waste skips and brought to landfill, of which it is estimated that 5,000 tonnes (50%) could have been recycled. Landfilling this waste is costing the ratepayer an estimated ?480,000 per year in landfill tax and this tax is set to increase by another ?8 per tonne each year.
Cllr Mick Murphy, Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council, said that the Council have introduced these changes, as the sites were not being used as intended. The Mayor went on to advise that too many people associated the sites as 'dumps ' when really their intention was as an outlet to recycle a number of materials.
The Mayor advised that during July, site users would have the changes explained to them and would be encouraged, for their next visit, to have materials pre-sorted to allow for maximum recycling.
Mr. Mc Corry, in support of the Mayor, advised that whilst rules at the sites would be tightened –up, the changes would not impact on those people who already recycle as no cost applies to householders recycling waste. He said that the new rules are targeted at those members of the public who could do better and in doing so provided benefit to the ratepayers.
Mr. Mc Corry added that staff would approach site users. Large loads, large vehicles and commercial waste would no longer have access to Household Recycling Centres sites in Warrenpoint, Newry, or Newtownhamilton as height barriers of 1.95m will be placed at the entrance of these sites. Users are advised to check the height of their vehicles before attempting to enter these sites. These vehicles, which cannot enter the other sites, will be redirected to Recycling Centres at Aughnagun, Camlough and Kilkeel, where charges could apply.
Concluding, The Mayor advised that the proposed changes are necessary in the view of the Council as simply by sorting waste before bringing it to the Household Recycling Centres, householders could all become expert recyclers; helping to improve the Councils overall recycling rate and reduce the cost of sending waste to landfill.
The Council has placed an advertisement in all the local newspaper to advise the public of the new opening hours at the Household Recycling Centres. For more information please visit the Councils website: http://www.newryandmourne.gov.uk/environment.asp Or telephone: 028 30313233
