Sinn Féin Councillor Conor D. McGuinness has said that the Waterford Council needs to consider the cost of not emptying the bins at Clonea strand when deciding whether or not to use additional resources to keep the popular seaside area clean over the weekend. McGuinness has raised the issue previously at council meetings, where the cost of weekend collection has been offered as a reason for overflowing bins.
McGuinness said:
“Waterford Council needs to consider the cost of not emptying the litter bins at Clonea – the cost to the environment, the reputational cost to Waterford, and the impact on the enjoyment of our natural amenities by locals and visitors alike.
“I believe that people should take their litter home with them, and there is no excuse for leaving rubbish on the ground if a bin is overflowing – but the reality is that we need litter bins at our beaches and public amenities. We need them to be emptied regularly, and the situation of leaving bins full over the weekend has to end.
“The same is true of maintaining public toilets at our beaches and public spaces. There will be an additional cost to having staff attend over the weekend, but this needs to be measured against the cost of not doing it.
“Clonea is the jewel in West Waterford’s crown when it comes to natural amenities. It’s a shame to see bins overflowing on approach to the strand.
Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness 