Call for recycling centre to re-open

THE recycling centres in Athlone and Mullingar which closed to the public a fortnight ago remain closed.

The closures arose after the contract for the centres was awarded to new companies under the tendering process and the current contractor Oxigen - which had run the centres for six years - vacated the sites.

At a meeting of Westmeath County Council this week, Fine Gael Councillor John Dolan sought an update. He was told, by Director of Services Martin Murray, that letters were issued last week to the new providers of both Athlone and Mullingar centres. Cllr Dolan stressed the importance of the centres re-opening in advance of Christmas, at a particularly busy time of year for recycling.

Earlier this month the council said it wished to advise the public that the centres were closing temporarily to facilitate the change of the council’s operator on these sites. 'Westmeath County Council is endeavouring to minimise this period of closure and regrets any inconvenience caused,” it stated.