McHugh's Miscellany: Isn’t it time we put these ‘rubbish' stories to bed!

Observing, as I drive, the copious amounts of rubbish that are being cast out of cars and other vehicles, ending up on the side of the road, the length and breadth of the county, is a most sad, nigh pathetic exercise.

During the height of the summer, it can be done on an industrial scale, as the growth of the sides of the roads usually hides it, from the casual observer.

Nocturnal activity also highlights those who are giving the two fingers to the very vast majority of law abiding citizens.

During Covid, it was said that we would let the wildflowers grow on the verges of the roads, giving a little nudge to mother nature, to help our little habitats by the roadside.

But in reality, that environmental plus is being immediately negated by the cowardly actions of those who see our countryside as one big rubbish cesspit.

It is disgusting and from even rudimentary observations, it appears to be more than just of casual polluters casting aside their takeaway rubbish, cans or plastic bottles.

Good intentions to report the catastrophe usually dissipate into life getting in the way and indeed, whether such reports will ever really see the perpetrators, brought to justice.

I can often see rubbish that appears to emanate as pure household rubbish.

And if not collected in time, usually by the wonderful people that are involved in Tidy Towns or the council, it is spread by the vagaries of the Irish weather, to the four corners of an adjoining field.

Indeed, I suspect that some people, who would otherwise keep a house neat and clean, think that it is ok to place their vehicle rubbish on the side of the road.

There are only two solutions.

One is to penalise and publicise those who transgress the litter laws in a very public way or the reality that we need to put a surcharge or monetary inducement on such items to encourage recycling.

I have been told tales about people putting their bins out, only for someone in the next street house, having never seen a bin, of any sort, make an appearance, outside their premises.

Legislation is now in hand to ensure that households must show proof of how they dispose of their household and whether they have engaged the services of a waste disposal firm.

Unfortunately, the only other way to dampen down such illegal dumping enthusiasm is to ensure that these items have a surcharge that can be retrieved, if brought back to the original seller or some other simple conduit of ‘bribery’.

I am aware that local authorities are doing their best regarding litter prevention and amongst their duties, is to provide empty litter bins.

It may only be me, but how many times have you gone looking for a litter bin that you definitely knew was there when you were a bit younger, but has now mysteriously disappeared.

Deep sadness at sudden passing of popular Ballyshannon man

I know they are often a nuisance in themselves, but just because an individual may be taking a hand at the authorities or those that have holiday properties here cannot bother to take their rubbish home with them, should they, like the old telephone boxes, quietly disappear?

At least in the case of the phone boxes, it was argued that new technologies had virtually eliminated the need for old style telephones and booths.

You cannot say the same about the disposal of rubbish.

Agus ar deireadh

Joe Biden is running for US President again. So may Donald Trump.

Plans for a new cinema in Donegal Town look like they have met their ‘Waterloo’.

The county is collectively licking its wounds after Down topple them in the Ulster senior championship, after a decade at the top of the game.

We may or may not get a bit of sun over the May Bank holiday weekend!

Time to regroup and refocus folks. Rotha Mór an tSaoil, mar a scríobh, Micí MacGabhann