8 June 2026
SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Séamas de Faoite is calling for Belfast City Council to set a date for ending the practice of refuse bags being left on streets across the city centre, university area and key arterial routes.
Councillor de Faoite will ask the Council's People and Communities Committee to agree to set a timeline for phasing out the practice, while working with residents, businesses and waste collection providers to identify alternative arrangements.
SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite said:
“Piles of refuse bags waiting for collection on our streets have become an accepted part of life in too many parts of Belfast. They shouldn't be. These bags are a magnet for rodents and seagulls, who will often leave food waste and containers strewn around bags in the city centre.
“Residents, businesses and visitors all want to see a cleaner, tidier city and that means moving beyond an approach that leaves rubbish sitting on our streets for hours, and sometimes days, at a time.
“We need to set a date to phase out this practice, making sure suitable alternatives are in place. That means working with residents, businesses and waste collection providers to identify solutions that are practical and effective.
“Dublin, amongst a number of other cities, has already shown that there are better ways to manage waste collection, including the use of waste and recycling compactors in parts of the city. Belfast should be ambitious enough to learn from that experience and explore what could work here.
“If we're serious about creating a cleaner, more attractive and more welcoming city, then we need to start making those changes now."