Cllr: ‘Plastic-scapes’ scourge

Non-biodegradable plastic is a blight on Cork’s natural environment and has no place in landscaping projects carried out by the council.

That’s according to Cobh Green Party Councillor Alan O’Connor who says the use of synthetic weed-barrier membrane is creating unsightly “plastic-scapes” in housing developments county-wide.

Speaking at a Cork County Council meeting this week, Cllr O’Connor said the use of such membranes to control weeds increases the amount of plastic in the environment and is only properly effective for “the first few years”.

He added that the layer of mulch or bark placed on top of the plastic will in time develop weeds of its own, rendering the plastic ineffective.

“In time, with disturbance of the overlying mulch, the membrane is exposed, leaving a ragged plastic-scape. It looks as though someone has half-buried some plastic bags in the ground,” he said.

According to Cllr O’Connor, the issue has cost Carrigtwohill valuable points in the Tidy Towns competition and he asked other councillors if they had seen the same in their own communities.

“These membranes are a failure. Not only is the plastic itself bad for the environment, but the resulting landscape produces a low-quality environment which requires high maintenance via weedkiller and reapplication of an overlying mulch,” he said.

Responding to Cllr O’Connor’s motion, Director of Service and Planning Michael Lynch said Cork County Council will continue to keep a pace with the best practice approaches regarding the use of weed barrier membrane in landscaping.

However, he said enforcing a change in practice in landscaping undertaken by individual applicants and third parties would go beyond the capacity of the planning authority.

“It is suggested the most appropriate approach is through raising awareness of such matters including discussion with relevant Government agencies to inform the preparation of robust and well-informed guidelines,” he said.

East Cork Independent Cllr Liam Quaide questioned Mr Lynch’s response, saying it does not make it clear why this form of landscaping cannot be phased out completely on council-related projects.

Cllr Quaide said there was absolutely no argument in favour of the use of weed barrier membrane on sustainability grounds.

He said while its use may appeal to a particular landscaping aesthetic, the impression of neatness associated with this type of landscaping does not hold up over time.

“Indeed, the long-term outcome is an overall visual impression of tackiness and decay,” he said.