Closed Barna Waste Facility in Athlone 'could reopen next week'

Westmeath County Council has advised the public that the Barna Waste Facility at University Road, Athlone, could reopen to the public next week.

The facility has been temporarily closed for several weeks following a direction by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).

The council said the facility was expected to remain closed this week, "with a potential reopening during the week commencing December 8".

It added, however, that this potential reopening next week was "subject to HSA approval".

The local authority added that the closure of the facility was "not an action of Westmeath County Council".

It outlined alternative arrangements for waste disposal, as follows:

"Commercial waste customers seeking alternative facilities can consult the National Waste Collection Permit Office website at https://facilityregister.nwcpo.ie/ to find a list of permitted waste facilities in the area.

"The local authority Civic Amenity Site at Golden Island is available for domestic users only and is not permitted to accept commercial volumes of waste or recyclables.

"Westmeath County Council will continue to provide updates as they become available," it said.