COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 12, 2009

QUESTION NO. 12

QUESTION: Councillor D. Keating

To ask the Manager to report on the provision of additional litter bins in our regional parks, and signage in our estates on litter related matters, including dog litter control, arising from the serious increases in litter, especially when Council staff overtime and weekend work has been curtailed?

REPLY:

The erection of signage in relation to litter and dog fouling is part of the role of the Anti Litter Warden however they have refused to erect such signs as part of their normal working day since the reduction in overtime.  This and other matters are part of an on-going discussion within the Labour Relations Commission arena.  The alleged increases in litter due to reductions in overtime/weekend work have not been substantial and these areas are inspected regularly by senior staff at weekends.   Normal working hours of Cleansing staff are sufficient to meet requirements when combined with rostered Anti-Litter Warden work and the provision of recycling initiatives.  There is also a proposal, in conjunction with other communitiy organisations, to run a campaign to try and influence behaviour and prevent littering by individuals in the first instance.  The development of the new social credits initiative should also impact in terms of motivating people to maintain litter free status within their areas.

The Council’s position on litter and dog waste in parks is that people should be encouraged to take their litter/dog waste home with them on the basis that our parks do not contain generators of litter such as shops, for example.  The Council has to date limited the installation of bins in parks which do not have a continuous staff presence; without which, bins can become full and if not emptied frequently, can add to the general clutter and poor appearance of the park. 

In addition, it is the Council's experience that where bins have been provided in parks in the past they tend to act as a focal point for gatherings. In these circumstances, the bins are often subjected to persistent vandalism which results in the removal of the bin.  The matter of providing additional bins in selected locations is under review having regard to available resources to manage them.