A brown wheelie bin similar to the ones that will be introduced to Fermanagh in the near future.
Brown bins could be introduced across Fermanagh by February next year, according to Fermanagh District Council.
Fermanagh councillors agreed this week to introduce food waste disposal bins across the county in advance of the formation of the new Council by April 2015.
The scheme is likely to commence during February and March next year. Householders in the Lisnaskea, Irvinestown and Enniskillen urban areas will first receive the bins, and a rural service will be delivered at a later stage.
Neighbouring councils in Northern Ireland have already implemented this trend over the last four years.
The Director of Technical Services, Gerry Knox referring to the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Waste Management Policy Report, said service delivery requirements would change.
Ratepayers here currently pay a vast amount for waste disposal collection, and if this proposal goes ahead, it could cost them extra.
The actual implementing of the brown bin service across Fermanagh will result in a separate collection for food and garden waste.
According to a spokesman for the council, food waste equates to approximately 5% of the total landfill waste.
Instead of taking up valuable landfill space, where it produces harmful methane emissions, the waste would be taken to a processing plant where it would be turned into compost and used to produce energy.
A two-bin kerbside collection system is currently in place across Fermanagh.
The introduction of a new bin will mean further separation of disposable rubbish.
Fermanagh residents have mixed views on the new proposal.
Sean Kelly, from Enniskillen believes the introduction of a new bin will just be an inconvenience.
“I already find it hard to separate my rubbish into general waste and recycling. I don’t believe many people will use the bins properly, and I would be reluctant to pay higher rates for this extra bin.”
However, Nicola Hanna was in favour of the new scheme.
“I regularly cut my grass and have nowhere to dispose of the grass shavings, so this bin would come in very handy.”
The council said this week that the brown bin waste collection will be integrated with the existing waste collection and recycling service in order to minimise costs.
The one inescapable cost, however, is the delivery of the new service.
At this week’s council meeting, members approved the spend of £169,000 to cover the difference between the grant available and the estimated cost of delivering the separate collection of waste.
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