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Statements by Our Candidates in the 2005 Elections

Liam Friel, SEA candidate for Cityside

Council blamed for rubbish build-up in Creggan

Monday, April 25th 2005

Liam Friel, the SEA Cityside candidate in the forthcoming council elections, has put the blame for the growing problem of rubbish in and around Creggan estate firmly on the Department of the Environment and the council.

He says these authorities "must be blamed for doing little or nothing to provide small-scale recycling facilities for every hundred or so houses. In most parts of Europe, he says, "there are glass, paper and plastic recycling bins on every street corner".

"Why is it we do not see old cookers, washing machines and bags and boxes full of rubbish littering the roadside in France, Spain or Holland?", he asks. "For one thing, the hours at which their Council amenities are open mean people who are working can still get to them. Here, the Council refuses to employ more workers and keep the amenity sites open for longer hours. This is counterproductive, as it leads to illegal dumping and less recycling.

"In a city that is blighted by unemployment and which faces millions of pounds in fines by the EU if we do not recycle considerably more of our household waste, employing more waste management workers would, in the long run, save the city money.

"The difficulties faced by citizens in Derry who want to recycle glass is a particular scandal", claims Mr. Friel. "Glass is the heaviest easily-recyclable element of the rubbish Derry sends to landfill at present. The cost of landfill, and of the massive fines we will have to pay the EU if we don't recycle more, is all based on weight. So, why do we not have glass recycling facilities in easy walking distance of every home in this city?"

Mr. Friel says this is another example of the short-term thinking of the established parties.  "SEA councillors would insist on the Council looking to the long-term needs of the city, as well as dealing with the immediate problems faced by accumulating rubbish in working class areas."





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