COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 14, 2010

QUESTION NO. 28

QUESTION: Councillor E. Walsh 2009

To ask the Manager would the Council in its literature promote the Anti-Dumping reporting telephone number and consider a change of same to an easier number that can be remembered by potential reporters of offenders?

REPLY:

The specific hotline service “Dump the Dumpers”  was established by the EPA and is designed to encourage reporting of illegal dumping of waste or of abandoned illegal dumps via a 24 hour call save telephone number - 1850 365 121.  This information is followed up and checked by the enforcement authorities - local authorities, the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement and the Gardaí - through the Environmental Enforcement Network.  This is a national service providing a phone line staffed on a 24-hour basis so callers get to speak to a trained operator who elicits all necessary details to enable the matter to be investigated. While information can be provided anonymously, callers are encouraged to leave contact details so that clarification can be sought if necessary and so that feedback can be provided to the caller if requested.  Serious incidents of illegal dumping are reported immediately to the Gardaí and the relevant local authority so that activities can be investigated as appropriate.

“The “Dump the Dumpers” phone line is now well established and is a valuable mechanism for members of the public to report illegal waste activities but the public can also report instances of illegal dumping directly to the Council's Litter Warden service by telephoning 01-4149220  which provides a voice mail system where messages can be left for Litter Wardens.  In addition, the main SDCC number 01-4149000 and the Online Customer Care Contact Form can be used.

The various above means of reporting illegal dumping are promoted by the Council website and in publications where appropriate.