Plea to provide brown bin service in Mayo village

"It’s high time Mayo County Council took a hard look at its bylaws. The absence of a brown bin service for the people of Belcarra is not just a local oversight, it's a flouting of EU law."

That's according to local election independent candidate, Harry Barrett.

He elaborated: "Unlike the county town, residents in Belcarra are not provided with a brown bin for organic waste.

"Why? Simply put, locals say council bye laws don’t require waste providers to offer one.

"Across the European Union, laws emphasise reducing waste and recycling.

"By not providing brown bins, people in Belcarra are not getting a chance to do this, they do not get the same service as everybody else, even though they have paid for it. That's totally unfair.

"The environmental section of Mayo County Council has a significant role to play here.

"It’s about more than just changing a rule; it’s about best practice and setting an example for communities all over Mayo.

"Just because you are living in a village, it does not give the waste provider a right not to provide you with a brown bin.

"This is totally wrong and unfair and needs to change. If they take your money they should provide you with the same options as everybody else.

"The council has the power and the responsibility to make this right.

"By requiring all waste service providers to offer a brown bin, they would not only align with European Union laws but also set the same standards for every household.

"I will be writing to Mayo County Council to address this anomaly in the bye laws immediately."