Are residents aware of new amenity site?

SIR, — The new civic amenity site in Downpatrick has opened for business and will be a major asset to people in the town and the surrounding area.

The ultra-modern facility is being hailed as one of the best of its kind and a number of new rules have been introduced in relation to the waste that can be taken there. Ratepayers are now being asked to sort out their waste before arrival.

While new rules have been introduced, my question is has this information been communicated to the district’s ratepayers?

Last week, a friend of mine came across a black bin bag full of rotting household waste. As a civic-minded individual, he removed it from the hedgerow, placed it in his car boot and took it to the new civic amenity site.

However, as the waste was in a black bin bag, staff refused to take it as there were various items in it which, apparently, is not permitted under the new rules.

This is a crazy situation which a council, determined to eradicate fly-tipping and illegal dumping, is responsible for. 

My biggest fear is that if people are no longer allowed to mix waste in black bin bags and take them to the district’s household recycling centres, more people will, unfortunately, dump their waste in secluded rural areas. 

This is an issue which council officials need to address.

Yours etc,

CONCERNED RESIDENT,

Downpatrick.