Ten per-cent using facilities drive southern reg cars

COUNCIL is encouraging people from outside the district to use recycling facilities in their own areas, after it emerged 10 per-cent of those using local sites are driving Republic of Ireland registered vehicles.

This issue was discussed at a recent meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Environment and Regeneration committee at which a report also detailed that some 66 southern reg cars used the Strahan’s Road facility over the course of 12 days in May, following the site’s reopening after lockdown.

Recycling centres enable householders to dispose of excess or bulky wastes including garden and green materials, furniture and white goods.

In the Republic, residents have to pay to have their waste disposed of.
CCTV systems had previously been installed at all council recycling sites with a small number of facilities also having number plate recognition cameras also installed.

However this technology only identifies cars with Republic of Ireland number plates and does not take account of users from the South driving locally registered vehicles.

It was further discussed at the meeting that a flat fee for southern registered cars could be implemented although no decisions on this were taken.

“The officer team are currently reviewing options and costs in terms of updating the system at specific sites and will bring forward a report for members consideration in due course,” the report to members detailed.

This week a spokesperson for council said it is aware of issues relating to cross border waste in terms of recycling centres.

The spokesperson said, “While our centres are designed to handle the volume of waste, which passes through daily, the council encourages people from outside the council area to use services and facilities within their own areas.”

The spokesperson added that last week elected members of the Environment and Regeneration Committee requested a special meeting of the committee be held to discuss issues raised at the previous meeting pertaining to waste issues at household recycling centres.

“Among the items for discussion will be usage from outside the jurisdiction, commercial usage and the costs around waste disposal,” they said.

A date for the meeting has yet to be confirmed but it is anticipated it will take place in early July.