Donegal Town bottle bank should be closed if new home can't be found - Cllr

The bottle bank in Donegal Town should be closed completely if a new location is not agreed by the new year. 

That is according to Cllr Tom Conaghan (Ind),who did not hold back in voicing his discontent over the ongoing bottle bank saga. He was supported by Cllr Micheál Naughton (FF) who said it was ‘upsetting’ to be called a liar after Donegal Council reneged on plans to move the controversial bottle bank.

Cllr Conaghan put down the following motion at the December meeting of the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal: “As a matter of urgency, the Donegal MD calls on the Environment Department to move forward and choose a location for the recycling/bottle bank in Donegal Town as the current location is unsuitable and in disrepair.”

The current temporary site behind Donegal Fire Station has already been resurfaced several times. But it is used for overnight parking by HGVs, which have a very damaging effect. 

Councillors  in Donegal MD were told early last year that a new bottle bank site had been earmarked near Donegal Craft Village. It was to be developed to a purpose built facility which would be adjacent to a proposed sandbag depot also owned by Donegal County Council.

However, it now appears that this is not going to happen. 

“It seems to be that it is just not going anywhere, in my opinion,” said Cllr Conaghan. “It is more or less being brought up at every meeting. People are coming to me saying they are up to their ankles in muck.

“I know it can’t just be put here, there or anywhere. We had a couple of locations in mind but there are objections all the time.

“Everybody is trying to do their bit but it seems that nobody wants it on their doorstep.

“It just can’t go on. I think that the bodies that should be in charge should come together and iron out something. It has to be a proper bottle bank facility.

“I make the suggestion: that if there is not something sorted by the new year, that it be closed completely. At the end of the day, it is only something small that has to be done.”

Cllr Micheál Naughton outlined how he had contacted Donegal County Council and was told that it would be sorted within a particular timeframe. When this didn’t happen, he was contacted by a constituent who called him a liar. 

“It is very upsetting to be told we are telling lies when we are passing on the information given to us,” said Cllr Naughton.

He described the current bottle bank and the ongoing relocation issue as ‘an embarrassment.’

“I appreciate that people will object but if we think we are going to keep everybody happy all the time, that is not going to happen. Sometimes you just have to make a decision and move on. 

“This is going on far too long. It is not acceptable for the people of the Donegal Town area.”