Company forced to withdraw bin bag collection service

The City Bin Co has stopped its bin bag refuse collection service for residents living in the city centre.

The move comes following the introduction of new Government rules requiring the use of wheelie bins instead of refuse bags.

It means that Barna Recycling, as of October 1, has a monopoly in the bin market for the hundreds of city centre households who have ‘wheelie bin exemptions’, and are permitted to continue to use bags.

Residents can apply for an exemption, if their townhouses and apartments are too small for wheelie bins or if there is no room in the front of the property for wheelie bins.

Householders who qualify must register with Galway City Council and Barna Recycling. Residents can no longer buy bags in shops and they must be purchased direct through Barna Recycling.

The City Bin Co, in a statement to the Galway City Tribune, said: “Under the new waste management legislation, the selling of bags for domestic collections through shops has been banned. Since we’re no longer allowed to sell to shops and we can’t deliver to customers, this removes our sales channel.”

The city centre exempted area includes homes in: Joyce Roundabout, along Bohermore, Prospect Hill, onto Bóthar Brendan Ui hEithir, St. Mary Magdalen Terrace, Forster Street, Frenchville Lane, along Eyre Square to Victoria Place, Dock Road, along Dock Street to Long Walk, Lower Merchants Road, Spanish Parade, over Wolfe Tone Bridge, proceed along Raven Terrace, Upper Dominick Street, including Pump Lane and Burkes Lane, William Street West, Munster Avenue, Sea Road as far as the Jesuit Church, proceed to Henry Street, New Street West, Raleigh Row, Palmyra Avenue, Palmyra Park, St Joseph’s Avenue, St John’s Terrace, St Helen’s Street, New Road, Mill Street, Parkavara, Nun’s Island, Lower Dominick Street, from O’Brien’s Bridge proceed along the river bank to Steamers Quay, Headford Road, Walsh’s Terrace, St Bridget’s Place, St Bridget’s Place Upper, St Bridget’s Terrace and finishing at Prospect Hill.

Wheelie bin exemption forms are available at City Hall.