Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The only narrative put forward by management in Galway in 2001 was that an incinerator was essential. The people of Galway disagreed. It has all been undone since because the waste collection has been privatised. For a number of years, we led the way in the pilot project with 70% recycling and, on an ongoing basis when it was rolled out, 56% of waste was diverted from landfill on a voluntary basis through educational policies. Of course, the result was that the system was privatised and we went backwards but it is a very good example of behavioural change being by the people.