There have been calls for a phased reopening of recycling centres in Belfast after a community group filled 15 skips of rubbish in just ten minutes in the north of the city.
The skips were paid for by the Ardoyne Association and placed around the district yesterday.
Local SDLP councillor Paul McCusker helped in the clean-up effort after large amounts of rubbish built up across the area in recent weeks.
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Recycling facilities in the city have been closed since the outbreak of the Covid-19 emergency.
While centres in other areas have started to reopen those is Belfast have remained closed.
Mr McCusker last night said the clear up was organised locally.
“It was organised by the Ardoyne Association, they paid for the skips in response to the build up of rubbish in entries,” he said.
Mr McCusker said “every single skip was filled within ten minutes” and there was now a demand for a “phased approach to open recycling centres”.
He said an issue around illegal dumping has also arisen across the city.
The councillor said that in recent weeks there has also been an increase in the number of rats in the area linked to the Covid-19 lockdown.
“One pest control provider said they were getting 50 – 60 calls a day across the city,” he said.
A spokesman for Belfast City Council said: “Recycling centres and civic amenity sites remain closed until further notice.
“They will reopen as soon as it is operationally possible, permissible under current regulations and safe to do so.
“We have streamlined our resources to prioritise delivery of essential services, such as waste collections, burials and cremations.
“We continue to review service provision on a daily basis.
