Smell from bins full of ‘putrid sludge’ wafting into home of elderly Waterford couple

The smell of bins full of “putrid sludge” is wafting into the home of an elderly couple in Waterford, a council meeting has heard.

The issue was highlighted by Social Democrats councillor Mary Roche at the October plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Cllr Roche said: “I’ve been dealing with an issue since the summer where a business that have plenty of street frontage themselves insist on putting their bins out in front of the property of an elderly couple.

“I have been along to smell and see those bins which are full of what I can only describe as 'putrid sludge' wafting in on the private property.”

Cllr Roche was speaking amid a discussion on the council’s plans to amend its current waste management bye-laws.

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“I want to propose a further addition [to the bye-laws] which would be that commercial premises that have adequate street frontage may not put their bins out for collection in front of private property,” she added.

Director of Services Gabriel Hynes presented two amendments to the waste-management bye-laws to Wednesday’s council meeting.

The first relates to how much time bins can be left out on the street. Under the amendment, bins should not be presented for collection earlier than 6pm on the day before collection day.

They must then be brought back onto the private property by 10am the following day, or within an hour of the waste being collected.

The aim of this amendment is to reduce the amount of bins being left out on the street for long periods.

The second proposed amendment would require commercial businesses to segregate their waste into three separate bins, just like homeowners.

These amendments were welcomed by all the councillors that spoke on the issue, with Sinn Féin councillor Pat Fitzgerald describing them as “long overdue”.

Cllr Roche’s proposed amendment was also welcomed, and it was agreed that it would be added to the list of amendments.

The amendments must now go forward for public consultation, before the members of Waterford City and County Council will be asked to formally vote on their adoption.