LOCALS in the Gaoth Dobhair area have been left frustrated after bags of litter were dumped in a residential area.
Over the weekend, bin bags of litter appeared at the roadside beside an overflowing bin in the centre of Gaoth Dobhair.
The rubbish bags then became ripped apart by seagulls and the contents was strewn across the road, infront of a residential area.
The rubbish has since been cleaned up by local people.
However, Cllr Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig has hit out at the people who left the rubbish behind.
“As a council and a community we all have a responsibility to keep our areas clean and tidy.
“I do believe strongly that people should not think they can dump their rubbish anywhere they want – it is not acceptable.
“Local people have had to clean up this mess and it is not on.
“People have no right to dump their rubbish in our community that after a couple of hours, is being torn apart by seagulls, dogs and cats,” said Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig.
Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said he believes the culprits are holiday makers visiting the area.
He called on those who own accommodation in the area to provide suitable bins and waste management facilities to prevent this from happening again.
“If it is the case and I strongly believe it is, this littering was caused by holidaymakers in the area.
“This happens every year.
“Those that are renting out houses or if they own the house, they need to take responsibility and provide facilities for them to dispose of their waste and litter properly,” said Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig.
Littering in the west of Donegal has been an ongoing issue for many years, particularly during the summer months.
Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig believes more facilities are required across the county in order to fully combat the issue.
He said, “We as a Council, that provides a waste disposal service, are not even reaching the mark.
“We expect people to travel around half an hour or more to recycling centres that are not even open everyday to dispose of all our waste.
“We need centres in Dunfanaghy, Gaoth Dobhair, Glenties or Ardara and other areas in the county to allow people to dispose of their waste properly.
“If we travel to Europe, we see the service that is be being provided for plastic, paper, glass, tin and compost.
“It is readily available over there and we do not provide it.
“The service we provide is not reaching the mark and we need to have a policy that provides the service that people expect,” said Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig .
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