Private operator appointed to empty city litter bins

Concerns have been raised that some of the city’s tourist hotspots – including Spanish Arch and Salthill Prom – could be left with overflowing bins because of a City Council privatisation proposal.

The proposals will also see the local authority left without a van which is currently used for dealing with fly-tipping and community clean-ups.

It’s understood the Council has awarded to a private operator a contract to empty the 20 ‘oversized’ litter bins around the city and Salthill.

At the moment, the bins are emptied by Council workers, but this will change next week with the appointment of the new operator.

However, concerns have been expressed that the private operator would only be able to empty the bins as part of a collection rota, and would not be able to offer the same ‘call-out’ service.

The move comes as part of a cost-saving measure by the Council – also, the lease will not be renewed on an existing open-back van used for such collections, and also for dealing with fly-tipping, residents’ association and community clean-ups.

The Galway City Tribune understands that the local authority expects the bins would be emptied once per week in the off-season and up to four times per week during the height of the summer.

The local authority has confirmed there have been discussions in relation to aspects of the litter service, but this has now part of an industrial relations process, having been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission.

“In the fine weather, these bins fill up very quickly, they overspill and look dirty in some of the city’s most used and photographed locations like Claddagh Quay, Spanish Arch and the Prom.

“My major concern is that they won’t be emptied. Whatever the new arrangement is, it must be put in the contract that there is a collection and call-out service on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

“I will be looking for the terms of the contract and how it will be implemented and managed, and the availability of the new company at times when it is needed to ensure there is no overflowing, particularly during fine weather,” said Councillor Padraig Conneely.

At a meeting of the Council’s Environmental Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) this week, Senior Engineer Joe Tansey said the local authority wanted to make the collection more cost effective

“There are budgetary constraints. Expenditure on litter management was reduced this year and all indications are that it will be again next year,” he said.