Dublin’s city center is getting a clean sweep! Starting September 16, businesses will have to say goodbye to their plastic garbage bags. The city council is rolling out a new plan to tidy up the streets and tackle the mess left by commercial rubbish.
The changes mean no more plastic bags for business waste in the city center. Instead, shops and restaurants will need to use wheelie bins or find other solutions for their rubbish. This new rule will affect 90 busy streets in the first phase, with full compliance expected by January 1, 2025.
Lord Mayor James Geoghegan explained the reasoning behind the change: “Dublin isn’t a dirty old town, but those plastic bags of rubbish have been a real eyesore. Seagulls tear them open, and now people are ripping them apart looking for recyclables.”
According to The Journal, these plastic bags have been causing numerous problems. They’re easy targets for birds and scavengers, create litter on the streets, and look unsightly in tourist areas. The city is determined to address these issues and improve Dublin’s appearance.
But that’s not all Dublin is doing to clean up its act. The city is going all out to spruce up its image by hiring 100 more cleaning staff and expanding 24-hour cleaning to more areas. They’re also investing €8.5 million in new cleaning vehicles to keep the streets sparkling.
Dublin City Council chief Richard Shakespeare called it an “ambitious new strategy” to get the basics right in the capital. He believes that focusing on these fundamental aspects is crucial for any major city.
So, if you’re running a business in Dublin city center, it’s time to wheel in the changes and roll out a cleaner future for everyone. The days of leaving plastic bags on the street are coming to an end, making way for a tidier, more attractive Dublin for residents and visitors alike.