Newbridge Civic Pride have long campaigned to have the litter-bins in newbridge replaced with a modern style bin. The bin proposed by Newbridge Civic pride is pictured below. Kildare County Council and Droichead Nua Town Council have purchased the new bins and they were installed around the town in March 2005.

Newbridge Tidy Towns Association assisted Kildare County Council by completing a survey of current bins in Newbridge. The survey was confined to litterbins which were positioned on or adjacent to public footpaths, and available for public use. The survey did not include litterbins which we understand were serviced by Residents Associations i.e. cast-iron bins at Moorefield Drive, and bins located in areas such as Standhouse Lawns, the Crescent, Pairc Mhuire and Highfield etc.

It was decided that the survey should extend from Buckley’s Cross to Ballymany, and include the main commercial centre of the town. As a consequence the survey covered the Naas Road, Athgarvan Road, Main Street, Public Car-park, Edward Street, Moorefield Road, Ballymany, Green Road, Henry Street, Limerick Lane, Charlotte Street, Station Road, Eyre Street, Georges Street, “Courthouse” Square, and Friary Road. While we endeavoured to count all litterbins available for public use, there may be some in concealed or outlying areas which were not surveyed.

While carrying out the survey we noted:
Type of bin
Location of bin
General condition of bin (appearance / damage)
Use intensity

We found a total of 81 litterbins within the survey area, included in this figure there were seven different types of bin currently in use. It was also noted that a significant number of the bins are clustered in particular areas.

Taking into account that the survey was carried out in the early afternoon, and the Council Cleaning Crew emptied the bins earlier that morning, the bin usage varied from virtually empty to full. During the course of the survey the streets were pleasantly litter free, with the exception of cigarette butts which are a significant problem. However, some litter was observed at Bus Stops and domestic rubbish was observed in some bins on Main Street.

Of the Bins surveyed:
29 (36%) bins were virtually empty
36 (44%) bins up to ½ full
16 (20%) bins were ½ full to full

In conclusion we made the following observations to Kildare County Council:

Given that there are seven varieties of bin in the town it would be desirable to have a standardised bin in all sections of the town (we feel this would also be of assistance to the cleaning crew).

Newbridge Civic Pride has recommended installing the Omos bin with built-in cigarette butt collector.

We are of the opinion that all of the older bins should be removed. Where appropriate make good the cobble locking or path surface where bins are being permanently removed from a location. Once the new Omos bins are installed in their optimum locations the effectiveness of the new bins could then be monitored and additional bins could be installed if and when required.

Given the number of bins available, many of them clustered adjacent to each other, we are suggesting that the number of bins be reduced in the town. The locations of the new bins should be carefully selected to have maximum impact and the Litter Wardens be consulted in this regard.

The public has been given the opportunity to “educate” themselves on the desirability of a clean litter free environment, we believe that a policy of “Bring your litter home” could be adopted in the town in keeping with European norms and Kildare County Council’s own recycling policy.

Where pleading, persuasion and education has not worked, we are strongly of the opinion that the Litter Pollution Act should be enforced without fear or favour.

Progress
Kildare County Council have determined a proposed location of the new bins (carried out in a joint survey by Kildare County Council's Environment Section & Newbridge Tidy Towns Association). The new bins are now in place, please use them.