How do you get the bottle into the bottle bank

THE makers of bottle banks, it seems, are blissfully unaware that wine bottles come in all shapes and sizes these days.

One woman brought an empty (of course) bottle of the German wine Volkacher Kirchberg to the new bottle bank at Castle Street carpark in Castlebar in recent weeks.

Try as she might, she could not force the bulgy bottle – described by the makers as ‘uniquely shaped’ – through any of the various apertures.

Frustrated, she made Councillor Michael Kilcoyne aware of her ‘problem’.

The councillor also failed dismally in his efforts to recycle the bottle.

“I turned it upside down, sideways, but nothing worked,” he explained.

Admitting defeat, Councillor Kilcoyne threw the stubborn receptacle in his car boot.

He commented later: “A lot of money was spent on this set of three bottle banks, which are situated at the rear of Elverys.

“The particular bottle bank was opened by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, with a lot of fanfare. Now we find they’re not always fit for use.

“Whoever designed the recycling units seems clearly unaware that bottles come in all shapes and sizes these days.

“At least one container should be made available for outsize bottles.

“We’re now part of the EU. It’s a ridiculous situation that needs to be rectified.”