Waterford Council to take away dog poo bags and bins in some areas
Dog waste bagged and dumped in Waterford
Waterford City and County Council are piloting areas for the removal of dog waste bins and bags.
Senior Engineer Gabriel Hynes was responding to a query from Cllr John Pratt at this week’s sitting of Dungarvan-Lismore District Council, who asked if extra bins could be provided to villages outside Dungarvan.
His request came as the town presentation team for Dungarvan has moved from the environmental department to roads.
Mr Hynes said no additional resources had been provided, only a transfer of staff who he did not think should be redirected outside the town.
The engineer said that where there are bins provided, dog walkers are not using them.
“People are not even using them. We are looking at piloting some areas for the removal of dog fouling bins and see if it improves the situation.
“Even where we have dog fouling bins, we find dog fouling bags thrown on branches and trees and everywhere else," said Mr Hynes.
During the update from the environmental department, Senior Executive Officer Dawn Wallace reiterated this point in response to a query from Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy on the cost of providing the bags.
“Having poo bags and bins readily available is not actually impacting in any positive way on a reduction of dog fouling. What we are finding is bags in trees, bushes and ledges.
"So what we agreed with in the SPC only last week was that we are going to pilot as Gabriel said, removing bags and bins from a particular number of areas to see if it has any impact,” said Ms Wallace.
Cllr Mulchay asked if the council could change supplier because the bill of €60,000 was too much.
“I think it’s an awful lot of money for bags,” said Cllr Mulcahy.
Ms Wallace said they are bound to the supplier because of the bins they use but agreed it is too much.
“And I would absolutely agree with you. The amount of money we are spending on something that the public has a legal responsibility to provide themselves as dog owners is not necessarily a good use of council funds,” said Ms Wallace.
