Council to make recylcing easier for residents in Fermanagh

by Gráinne Connolly

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is making it easier for residents to recycle by accepting glass bottles and jars in blue household recycling bins across the district from Monday 4 June 2018.

Currently, householders in the Omagh area can recycle their glass at bottle banks or at home using their blue household recycling bin while Fermanagh residents can recycle glass at bottle banks only due to legacy contracts from the former Fermanagh and Omagh district councils. 

Householders in the Fermanagh area are advised not to place any glass material into their blue recycling bin until this date as to do so will result in contamination of the recyclable waste under the existing contract.

Speaking about the change in recycling policy, Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Stephen McCann, said:

“The Council has taken the decision to provide all households with the option of placing their glass jars and bottles in their blue household recycling bin to ensure that a consistent approach is taken across the Council area and with the aim of increasing the overall recycling rate achieved and reducing the amount of glass going to landfill.”

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council must achieve a 50% recycling rate and significantly reduce waste sent to landfill by 2020 or face significant infraction fines. The district has a current recycling rate of 45.3%.

The Councillor added: 

“Whilst the Council will accept glass in all blue household recycling bins from 4 June we encourage residents to continue to use their local bottle banks in so far as possible as the glass collected from them is a better quality recyclate and is more economical to process." 

38 bottle banks are located across the district. 23 are available to the public 24 hours a day while 15 are located at recycling centres and available during normal operating hours.

All colours of glass bottles and jars can be disposed in bottle banks and blue household recycling bins. These include wine, beer and spirit bottles, jam and coffee jars, sauce bottles and baby food jars.

Window pane glass, mirrors, light bulbs, pyrex, ceramics or crockery including cups and drinking glasses must not be placed in blue household recycling bins or bottle banks.

The inclusion of glass jars and bottles in blue household recycling bins in the Fermanagh area comes into effect on 4 June 2018.

 Householders across the district are reminded that it is preferable to recycle glass at bottle banks as it is a better quality recyclate and is more economical to process.