Local councils are warned to clean up their recycling act

JUST one in 20 households in Carlow and Mayo are recycling their rubbish, as new figures show a massive disparity in recycling rates across the country.

Despite numerous public information campaigns, a new report shows that some local authorities need to dramatically improve recycling services to ensure we reduce our dependency on landfill.

A report from the country’s local authorities shows that as much as 93pc of household waste in some counties goes to landfill – but that Galway, Longford and Waterford councils ensure that over 40pc of rubbish is recycled.

The league table of local authorities published today compares the performances of every council across 42 separate – including waste recycling, fire brigade response times, planning enforcement, litter and housing.

It shows that while recycling rates are rising, some authorities need to dramatically improve services.

It also shows that planning enforcement and prosecutions for pollution and litter offences need to be ramped up.

Legal action was taken in less than one in six cases involving serious pollution last year, with just over 500 successful prosecutions for littering. Environment Minister John Gormley said planning authorities need to “intensify their efforts” and “take their responsibilities seriously.”

“Progress made by local authorities in recent years is evident by the information contained within the Service Indicator report, nonetheless local authorities must strive to do better to improve services to the public,” he said.

“There is a wide variation in recycling performance for household waste,” he added, calling for “improved performance”.

“I am also particularly keen that all planning authorities intensify their efforts in the area of planning enforcement.

I am determined that all local authorities take their responsibilities seriously in this regard.”

The report also shows an increased number of complaints to local authorities about pollution and planning, but low rates of enforcement for breaches of planning permission.

There has been a slight reduction overall in the time taken to re-let council housing, with some authorities re-letting houses in four weeks but some taking up to 20.

The report also indicated a increase in litter fines and less litter in towns.

On the quality of public drinking water, it finds that local authorities were 96pc compliant with statutory requirements, but concerns have been raised for private schemes, with Waterford County Council revealing that one in five were not compliant.

The average time to mobilise a fire brigade is 1.6 minutes – but Galway County Council took 3.2 minutes – with most fires attended within 20 minutes. Dublin City manager John Tierney, speaking on behalf of the County and City Managers Association (CCMA), said “good progress” was being made but improvements were needed.

“The report demonstrates very good progress is being made under a number of headings and as would be expected highlights some areas, which require further attention.”
(c) Irish Independent