A Meath councillor is calling for dog poo-powered street lights to be installed in his native Trim.
The Irish Examiner reports Fine Gael Councillor Noel French thinks the lights on public footpaths will help combat dog fouling.
He's asking the council to install the lighting following the success of a similar system in the UK.
He said: "Britain's first dog poo-powered street-lamp has been installed to help clear up verges and a guide for walkers descending from the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire."
"Dog walkers are provided with free compostable bags and encouraged to deposit the dog poo into a hatch leading to an anaerobic digester beside the lamp."
"Ten bags of poo is sufficient to provide two hours of light from dusk. Dog owners are encouraged to turn a handle five times which helps break down the contents of the digester to produce methane to fuel the lamp."
Councillor French is well known for thinking up of innovative ideas to tackle dog fouling and littering. His suggestion to use an audio warning about dog fouling has been installed at a park in Navan, while drones are being used to combat littering.
However, he says he's running out of ideas to try and encourage the council to hand out more fines. He claims there's only been 12 fines issued in five years, and only five of them were paid.
