Recycle centre opening ‘proud’ event in town

MINISTER for the Environment Noel Dempsey officially opens the recycling centre on Newry Road.

He is given a tour of the facilities which are operated by V&W Recycling Ltd, and sees the bring banks as well as areas for old household appliances, building rubble, car batteries and waste oil.

Describing the ceremony as ‘a historic and special occasion’, Dundalk urban district council chairman Cllr Séamus Keelan also traces the history of the town dump.

He explains that in the 19th century the Corporation of Dundalk took responsibility for watching, lighting and cleansing of the borough.

Forty-seven acres of slobland was leased from Lord Roden in 1913, and for the past 80 years the town’s rubbish went there.

Cllr Keelan adds he is glad to see that the landfill is coming to an end.

‘It is an objective of the urban district council to turn the landfill site into a public amenity.’

He pays tribute to William and Veronica Martin of V&W Recycling Ltd. for their enthusiastic and efficient management.

Minister Dempsey points out the civic amenity and recycling centre is a very timely and important initiative as Ireland is very far behind other European countries in this regard.

‘Dundalk can be proud that it has a new, state-ofthe-art, accessible facility which is both convenient and free for the public to use,’ adding his department had provided a grant of £200,000 towards its completion.

The minister reveals 300 vehicles are coming to the centre every week, and as a result 100 tonnes of waste has been diverted from landfill since last December. It is anticipated 13,000 people will use the facility annually.

An ecumenical blessing is conducted by Rev Wilson and Fr Tremer.