Call for action on wheelie bins on paths and streets

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Concern over the increasing number of wheelie bins being left on footpaths and public streets across Athlone were shared at a recent meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, with councillors making calls for stronger enforcement and a new protocol to deal with the issue.

The motion, brought forward by Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, asked the District to “discuss, agree and implement a new protocol to address the issue of abandoned, unsightly, and obstructive wheelie bins within Athlone town in an efficient and timely manner.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr O’Rourke said the issue was affecting both accessibility and the appearance of the town.

“It impacts the look and feel of the public realm spaces. We need to tighten it up a bit. It is a prevalent problem,” he said.

In explaining the reasoning behind the motion, Cllr O’Rourke highlighted the difficulties obstructive bins can create for wheelchair users, visually impaired pedestrians, older people and parents with buggies.

“In many cases people are being forced onto the roadway because footpaths are obstructed. Footpaths are for pedestrians first and foremost,” he said.

He also acknowledged that some older residential areas face genuine storage challenges, but warned that the persistent obstruction of public footpaths “cannot simply become normalised.”

The councillor said the issue extended beyond accessibility to the overall appearance of streets and estates where bins are continuously left in public view.

Members of the District broadly supported the motion, with particular concern expressed about large commercial bins left in prominent locations.

“We spent millions on the town, and it looks well, but the bins do take away from it,” said Cllr John Dolan.

“When businesses get planning permission, they have the provision for bin covers, and they should use them,” he added.

District Manager Annie Blessington described the matter as a “very important” issue.

“We need to make sure our streets are accessible, and it tends to be the side streets that suffer the most,” she said.

Ms Blessington also suggested the council may need to review the current timeframe allowed under bye-laws for bins to remain on public streets.

“Bye-Laws allow for bins to be put out the day before and the day of collection, maybe we need to restrict this further,” she said.

In a written response to the motion, the council said that bins must be stored within the curtilage of a property and are prohibited from being left on footpaths or in public places except on designated collection periods.

Council officials said Municipal District staff would continue ongoing work to identify and address non-compliant bins using existing enforcement powers.

The Council also confirmed it intends to engage directly with authorised waste collection providers to encourage a more active role in the identification and removal of abandoned bins, particularly in sensitive town-centre locations.

As part of his proposal, Cllr O’Rourke also called for a practical review of how enforcement is carried out. He said the removal of full wheelie bins currently requires significant resources, including the use of loaders or JCBs alongside separate trucks.

He suggested the Council examine fitting lifting attachments to one of its vehicles, similar to those used by private waste operators, to allow bins to be removed more efficiently where enforcement action is necessary.

Cllr O’Rourke stressed that any new approach should be balanced and proportionate, beginning with warning notices and engagement where possible, but allowing for stronger enforcement in cases of repeat offending.

“This motion is not about punishing people unnecessarily. It is about protecting accessibility, improving the appearance of our streets, and giving the council practical tools to deal with an issue that is becoming more common.”