Missed bins: ‘Things are as bad now, if not worse’

TEMPO, Garrison, Drumee, Dromore and Carrickmore are just some of the household recycling centres that experienced reduction in their opening times in recent days.

Alongside that disruption, a significant number of households across Fermanagh and Omagh have experienced missed bin collections in recent weeks.

This is according to UUP councillor, Mark Ovens, who hit out at ongoing delays to council waste disposal, which includes brown waste caddies.

Speaking at a recent meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Ovens referenced a recent committee report provided to councillors, which outlined the current situation with local bins.

Councillor Ovens said the report didn’t provide “the assurances that members requested”.

“Even in the last few days, we have been getting daily notifications about what routes have been missed,” he said.

Referring to the Council’s provision of household recycling centres, he added: “I have had a quick look, and I am seeing that

Drumee, Garrison, Tempo, Carrickmore and Dromore have all been disrupted.

“This report isn’t good enough and doesn’t provide the assurance or the recognition that it is being treated with priority.”

Councillor Ovens also voiced his concerns that a timeframe as to when bin collections would improve had not yet been given by the Council.

Referencing recent communication to councillors on the issue, the UUP councillor said: “I have a copy of the communication. It’s fine, it’s fairly bland and fairly factual. It has the lines we have been using all year.

“However, I don’t see a timeframe about when things are going to get better. Things are as bad now, if not worse, than when they were last month.”

The discussion on council waste collection comes amid an ongoing investigation into the collection of household refuse, after it was reported that recycling materials and food waste were being mixed, therefore contaminating recyclable items.