KILDARE: No ifs or buts - cigarette litter is to be tackled
Demand for special bins
Kildare County Council is to explore the possibility of installing bins especially designed to accept cigarette butts.
Newbridge councillor Peggy O’Dwyer made the request, pointing out that ballot bins, as they’re known, have been installed in Waterford city and two towns in that county - Tramore and Dungarvan.
The councillor likened the special bin to a “customised ashtray” which would “get on top of cigarette butt litter.”
She said the bins can reduce cigarette butt litter by 73%.
She also pointed out that some plastic in butts can take 13 years to break down.
However Cllr Chris Pender said “we need to know who will empty the bins and when this will happen.”
He said this needs to be clarified before they are introduced.
Cllr Bernard Caldwell supported the request and said the dumping of cigarette butts is a problem outside one pub in Leixlip and the local Tidy Towns groups have complained about it.
KCC is to identify suitable locations to trial the bins.