The Herald has been contacted by readers who have reported seeing an increasing number of rodents when visiting the Drumee Recycling Centre outside Enniskillen in recent times. One person said they even had to leave after spotting a furry friend while dropping off some recycling at the state-of-the-art centre. 

Responding to a query from the Herald, the Council said rats were unfortunately an inevitability at dumps and waste sites, but that it was taking measures to deal with the issue. 

“Rodents are a feature of any facility where food or shelter is available to them, including waste facilities such as Drumee,” said a spokesman. “The Council has a contract with a private sector pest control service for the control of rodents at its waste facilities.”

While the Council has said it uses it a professional human service on the site, residents who live nearby have said cats are also employed as a natural way of controlling rat numbers. It seems some locals have taken a shine to the cats, too, and are feeding them. 

Which may go some way to explain why the feline guards having been slacking in their rat-catching duties. 

The Drumee Recycling Centre was opened in 2006 and is one of the largest recycling sites in the Council area. Located on the main Enniskillen to Derrygonnelly road, it replaced the old Glassmullagh landfill site. With landfill at the site being phased out, Drumee is now responsible for recycling tens of thousands of waste each year.