One local Councillor is calling for a reform of Waterford's recycling strategy.
Currently, bin providers collect recyclable waste from households, with glass bottles and clothing brought to recycling banks across Waterford.
However, Cllr. Thomas Phelan is calling for waste providers to be responsible for the collection of glass bottles. He also wants more clothing donated to charity shops instead of the majority of unwanted clothing brought to clothes banks.
Speaking at the most recent Dungarvan/Lismore meeting of Waterford Council, Cllr. Phelan said other issues are also ongoing at bottle banks.
"I brought this up at last month's meeting regarding people leaving rubbish near bottle banks and not being able to do anything about it.
"In other countries, people have their glass bottles collected in a wheelie bin by a separate refuse provider.
"I can see why we might need bottle banks in the absence of such a service, but could we write to the new minister for the environment [Darragh O'Brien] and ask if there are any plans to move away from bottle banks on public land and instead having our glass bottles collected by the domestic refuse providers?
"I'd also be happy to see the removal of clothes recycling banks, there are plenty of charity shops that would take in old clothes. I understand that councils are legally required to provide clothes banks. Maybe Dawn could confirm if that is the case. I think we need to contact the minister to see if we can move away from bottle banks to a collection".
Head of Environment with Waterford Council, Dawn Wallace, responded by saying Ireland falls under EU directives.
"We are aware of the litter at bottle banks. All EU member states are obliged to collect textiles separately, and it has been decided nationally in Ireland that this requirement would be met by providing separate collections through clothes banks which is why we haven't removed clothes banks. Ireland hasn't been doing great when it comes to recycling.
"The alternative to bottle banks is civic amenity sites for which we only have two of in the whole county.
"All EU member states are required to collect textiles separately, and that was nationally decided to do this via clothes banks".
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