"Enough Is Enough": For Years, Straffan’s Public Waste Has Been Managed By Locals Pushing A Wheelbarrow

Monday, 13 January 2025 12:21

By Martin Osborne

The village is reliant on community efforts to manage public waste, an arrangement that has persisted for "too long", according to Joe McBride, a member of Tidy Towns in Straffan.

Residents in Straffan are expressing frustration over the lack of official bin collection services in their village, a long-standing issue that has forced Tidy Towns volunteers to step in.

It's understood that Kildare County Council's (KCC) decision not to provide a collection service is because it believes Straffan’s population is too small.

That's despite the village having a population of over 1,100 residents.

The village is reliant on community efforts to manage public waste, an arrangement that has persisted for "too long", according to Joe McBride, a member of Tidy Towns in Straffan.

Tidy Towns volunteers have taken on the responsibility of maintaining the village’s 10 public bins.

For years, a rota system was in place, with volunteers personally collecting waste on a bi-weekly basis.

"We are under pressure; we don’t have a huge number of personnel," Joe said.

He said "enough is enough" and it's time for the council to take on the role.

Currently, a Community Employment Scheme worker based at the local community hall handles public bin collections.

However, this support is temporary, with the worker’s tenure set to end in the summer.

The future of waste management in Straffan remains uncertain, raising concerns among residents and volunteers.

The process of waste collection is labour-intensive, with volunteers relying on a large wheelbarrow to gather waste.

Despite the challenges, the community has persevered, donning gloves and working to keep their village clean.

Comparisons with neighbouring towns such as Clane, Maynooth, and Celbridge, which all have official bin collection services, add to the frustration. On occasions when volunteers have been unavailable due to work commitments, waste management has suffered.

KCC provides heavy-duty bin bags. Tidy Towns members, however, pay for gloves and other items of clothing out of their own pocket.

Cllr Peter Melrose said it's time for Kildare County Council to step in.

Kfm has contacted the council for comment.