Latest news with #LitterPollutionAct
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Concerns as fewer litter fines issued in south Dublin area
New figures from South Dublin County Council (SDCC) show the total number of fines issued for littering has fallen from 517 in 2022, to 397 in 2024. The council was responding to a request from Niamh Fennell, Sinn Féin councillor for Palmerstown-Fonthill, to break down fines issued by litter wardens in the county over the previous three years. The total number of complaints made under the Litter Pollution Act and investigated by the litter warden service in the county between 2022 and 2024 was 4,264. This led to a total of 1,413 fines issued in the SDCC area during those three years. Derren Ó Brádagh, a Sinn Féin area rep for the Lucan area, said the local community had been reporting more waste in public areas and less enforcement around it. 'I live in Lucan where we have been combatting litter as a problem,' he said. 'We have to fight for the basics, even public litter bins to be put in some areas in West Lucan where it's the developer or the council's responsibility to do so. 'People's concern is about a lack of enforcement, specifically when it comes to fast food outlets. 'On weekends, we see more waste in our villages and streets, it's packaging from very well known, large fast food takeaways.' Litter fines in Lucan have gone down from 70 to 43 between 2022 and 2024. 'We don't see enough litter wardens going around or enough action being taken. There have been concerns over the number of wardens reducing over the last few years,' Mr Ó Brádagh said. 'In Lucan, that's a 39pc decrease in fines being issued, which is hard to understand considering that the population has grown exponentially since 2022.' Under the Litter Pollution Act, food outlets have a responsibility to keep the area surrounding their premises litter-free within a 100-metre radius. Businesses are expected to provide bins within their vicinity and to clean up within that area. According to SDCC's own Litter Management Plan, dropping or leaving litter in a public place is an offence which can result in a €150 penalty or a fine of €4,000 through the courts. 'Here in Lucan, you can find challenging types of litter, like pizza boxes, around fast food outlets within that 100-metre radius all the time,' Mr Ó Brádagh said. 'This is waste that clearly originates from these businesses and is their responsibility to clear. We're not seeing enough enforcement action.' Mr Ó Brádagh also raised the concern that local councils are growing more dependent on community groups to take care of litter problems. 'There are a number of tidy town groups and residents groups where people have taken on these responsibilities themselves,' he said. 'We're concerned that developers and councils become dependent on the voluntary work of residents that are routinely doing litter clean-ups on a weekly or monthly basis.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Sunday World
11-07-2025
- Sunday World
Locations of 31 proposed CCTV cameras revealed as council asks for public input
The council has signalled that it intends to install and operate CCTV cameras for the sole primary purpose of preventing litter and illegal dumping and enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, and the Waste Management Act 199 The closing date for submissions to Waterford City and County Council is Friday, August 1 next (stock image). Waterford's local authority has begun a public consultation on installing CCTV cameras at 31 locations across the city and county to tackle litter and dumping. The council has signalled that it intends to install and operate CCTV cameras for the sole primary purpose of preventing litter and illegal dumping and enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, and the Waste Management Act 1996. 'This initiative will adhere to the codes of practice for the operation of CCTV for the purposes of prevention, detection and prosecution of litter and waste offences,' said a spokesperson. The approval for any particular area will be for a maximum of three years, and cameras may be erected at any time, and for any period within that timeframe, dependant on funding availability. Prior to the approval of the installation of CCTV in any of the areas, the public are invited to make submissions on the proposed scheme. Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed scheme may be made in writing, marked 'CCTV Consultation', to Waterford City and County Council, Customer Service, Baileys New Street, Waterford. They made by email to Envsubmissions@ or online at on the right hand side of the page marked, 'make a submission'. The closing date for submissions is Friday, August 1 next. The closing date for submissions to Waterford City and County Council is Friday, August 1 next (stock image). News in 90 Seconds - July 11th So far, three submissions have been made in respect of CCTV. One person wrote: 'Can the road from Monamintra Roundabout (Airport Road) to Kilcaragh Cross L4066 be included on the list? Most especially the windy narrow section, close to Airport Road (R708). Illegal dumping is a daily occurrence.' Another wrote: 'I've read that Waterford Council are proposing CCTV for 31 new locations. Illegal dumping is a constant weekly occurrence on the Old Tramore Road between Couse Bridge roundabout and Ballinamona. Can this location be consider for inclusion - if not as part of this roll out then a future roll out please?' While the final submission said: 'I welcome any tool to help prevent and prosecute illegal dumpers. Living in rural west Waterford, every night brings new dumping outlets of vans and cars on to our roads, gate entrances, hedges and even gardens. Without deterrents like this, there is no stopping dumpers who wreck people's environments and peace of mind. 'I'd also like to see mobile cameras and warning signage for certain roads blighted every day. Anything to help address the unaccountable abuse of our environment and living areas. There seems to be no funding, no mobile units. These would really help areas that are targeted every night.' The council is seeking the public's views on the implementation of CCTV in the following areas: Henry Street, (Waterford), Vulcan Street (Waterford), Barker Street, (Waterford), Scotch Quay, Congreve Lane, (Waterford), High Street – Keizer Street, (Waterford), Ballybricken, The Glen, Tesco Ballybeg, Tesco Poleberry, Tesco Ardkeen, John's Lane (Waterford), St. Johns Avenue (Waterford), Gaultier, Killea (Dunmore East), Dungarvan Estuary (Shandon), Cathal Brugha Place (Dungarvan), N25 Layby (Barranalira), Clonea Beach carpark, Kilbarry Road, (Waterford), Lacken Road (Waterford), N72 layby, Curraghreigh North (Lismore), R680, Pouldrew (Kilmeaden), N25 Layby, Ballyduff West (Kilmeaden), Tallow Relief Road (Tallow), Quanns Field, Ringnasilloge (Dungarvan), Affane Bring Centre (Cappoquin), Dromana Bridge (Cappoquin), Kilbree East (Cappoquin), parking area at Powers the Pot), Western Terrace (Dungarvan), Cathedral Lane (Waterford).
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Locations of 31 proposed CCTV cameras revealed as Waterford council asks for public input
The council has signalled that it intends to install and operate CCTV cameras for the sole primary purpose of preventing litter and illegal dumping and enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, and the Waste Management Act 1996. 'This initiative will adhere to the codes of practice for the operation of CCTV for the purposes of prevention, detection and prosecution of litter and waste offences,' said a spokesperson. The approval for any particular area will be for a maximum of three years, and cameras may be erected at any time, and for any period within that timeframe, dependant on funding availability. Prior to the approval of the installation of CCTV in any of the areas, the public are invited to make submissions on the proposed scheme. Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed scheme may be made in writing, marked 'CCTV Consultation', to Waterford City and County Council, Customer Service, Baileys New Street, Waterford. They made by email to Envsubmissions@ or online at on the right hand side of the page marked, 'make a submission'. The closing date for submissions is Friday, August 1 next. So far, three submissions have been made in respect of CCTV. One person wrote: 'Can the road from Monamintra Roundabout (Airport Road) to Kilcaragh Cross L4066 be included on the list? Most especially the windy narrow section, close to Airport Road (R708). Illegal dumping is a daily occurrence.' Another wrote: 'I've read that Waterford Council are proposing CCTV for 31 new locations. Illegal dumping is a constant weekly occurrence on the Old Tramore Road between Couse Bridge roundabout and Ballinamona. Can this location be consider for inclusion - if not as part of this roll out then a future roll out please?' While the final submission said: 'I welcome any tool to help prevent and prosecute illegal dumpers. Living in rural west Waterford, every night brings new dumping outlets of vans and cars on to our roads, gate entrances, hedges and even gardens. Without deterrents like this, there is no stopping dumpers who wreck people's environments and peace of mind. 'I'd also like to see mobile cameras and warning signage for certain roads blighted every day. Anything to help address the unaccountable abuse of our environment and living areas. There seems to be no funding, no mobile units. These would really help areas that are targeted every night.' The council is seeking the public's views on the implementation of CCTV in the following areas: Henry Street, (Waterford), Vulcan Street (Waterford), Barker Street, (Waterford), Scotch Quay, Congreve Lane, (Waterford), High Street – Keizer Street, (Waterford), Ballybricken, The Glen, Tesco Ballybeg, Tesco Poleberry, Tesco Ardkeen, John's Lane (Waterford), St. Johns Avenue (Waterford), Gaultier, Killea (Dunmore East), Dungarvan Estuary (Shandon), Cathal Brugha Place (Dungarvan), N25 Layby (Barranalira), Clonea Beach carpark, Kilbarry Road, (Waterford), Lacken Road (Waterford), N72 layby, Curraghreigh North (Lismore), R680, Pouldrew (Kilmeaden), N25 Layby, Ballyduff West (Kilmeaden), Tallow Relief Road (Tallow), Quanns Field, Ringnasilloge (Dungarvan), Affane Bring Centre (Cappoquin), Dromana Bridge (Cappoquin), Kilbree East (Cappoquin), parking area at Powers the Pot), Western Terrace (Dungarvan), Cathedral Lane (Waterford).
Irish Independent
20-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
‘Significant' increase in illegal dumping at Galway bring bank locations
Issuing the appeal on their Facebook page, Galway County Council said it has witness a 'significant increase' in dumping throughout the network of bins, 'with particular pressure on the clothes bank service.' A photo shows a pile of full bin bags stacked high, with contents such as clothes and plastic toys spilling out, next to the donation bin displaying a 'no dumping' sign. 'Galway County Council appeals to all users of bring bank services in the county not to misuse them and to keep them clean by doing the following: - Only deposit clean clothes suitable for reuse in the banks provided - Check the chute if it appears full – it may simply be blocked - Should the banks be full, please take the items home and return when the banks have been emptied - Never leave items on the ground, this is illegal and subject to a €150 fine under the Litter Pollution Act' Bring banks are locations designated for residents to dispose of items like glass, textiles, and in some locations, batteries and waste metals with around 90 locations throughout the county. Twelve of those locations are in Galway City.
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Three successful Tipperary prosecutions for litter and illegal dumping so far this year
The figures were released in Tipperary County Council's management report for June, which was circulated to councillors ahead of the June plenary meeting. So far in 2025, there were three successful convictions, with one under the Waste Management Act and two under the Litter Pollution Act. In the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District (MD), an individual was prosecuted for the illegal dumping of bags of waste in remote area of the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel MD under the Waste Management Act of 1996. In this case, the judge imposed a €500 penalty and €750 in costs following the testimony of the Environmental Enforcement Officer. Elsewhere in the county, another individual was successfully prosecuted in court under the Litter Pollution Act 1997 for their failure to pay a litter fine of €150 following the discovery of discarded waste in the Nenagh MD area by the Environmental Enforcement Officer. In this case, the judge imposed a €250 penalty and €250 in costs following the testimony of the Environmental Enforcement Officer. Finally, a third individual was prosecuted, also under the Litter Pollution Act, in Thurles for failing to pay a litter fine of €150 following the discovery of two bags of discarded waste by the Environmental Enforcement Officer. In that case, the judge imposed a €500 penalty and €400 in costs following the testimony of the Enforcement Officer. So far this year, there have also been three cases that have been recommended to be prosecuted under the Waste Management Act. A further two cases are awaiting a trial date, and have been deferred to later this month.
