COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 12, 2011
QUESTION NO. 18
QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell
To ask the Manager for a comment on the recent national Business Report on Litter which showed Dublin in a very bad light. To please outline in his report the effects of the recent re-deployment of staff into this area of work and what further action is planned to address the issue of littering across South Dublin County?
REPLY:
In the Ibal Anti Litter League 2011 in conjunction with the Department of the Environment Tallaght was 42nd out of 53 towns. The Litter Classification assigned was moderately littered. This was an improved result for Tallaght with half of the sites receiving the top litter grade. South Dublin County Council operates on many fronts to raise environmental awareness and to remove abandoned/dumped materials from the area.
The redeployed Refuse staff that litter pick throughout the county work in the Operations Section. The crews are assigned daily to open spaces, green areas, parklands and have collected a vast quantity of abandoned and dumped waste. (Refer to table for monthly tonnages)
Tonnages Collected by Operations Unit
| Year | Month | Tonnage |
| 2011 | April | 65.380 |
| 2011 | May | 175.430 |
| 2011 | June | 123.540 |
| 2011 | July | 84.260 |
| 2011 | August | 114.720 |
This volume of dumped waste( 563.33 Tonnes) is in addition to the waste collected by the Cleansing staff and the material removed from the street by Oxigen Environmental, the Council’s road sweeping Contractor. The Council Cleansing Service operates throughout the county to clean fly tipping, collect material from litter bins, instigate the removal of dead animals and general litter removal.
Tonnages Collected by Cleansing and Oxigen Environmental
| Litter bins | Junk | Clean up | Road sweeping | Gulley cleaning | Totals | |
| January | 27.070 | n/a | 105.1 | 432.420 | 99.600 | 664.19 |
| February | 22.930 | n/a | 128 | 638.620* | 99.560 | 889.11 |
| March | 26.640 | n/a | 107 | 366.400 | 167.800 | 667.84 |
| April | 24.880 | n/a | 85.91 | 341.260 | 214.460 | 666.51 |
| May | 25.540 | n/a | 69.88 | 314.760 | 166.580 | 576.76 |
| June | 23.880 | n/a | 58.38 | 221.920 | 226.600 | 530.78 |
| July | 27.549 | n/a | 48.640 | 186.880 | 230.560 | 493.629 |
The Cleansing and Operations Unit do their best to remove as much waste and litter as possible from areas within the County. However, it is up to the residents and businesses to contribute to keeping the areas free of litter and this may mean reporting those who are observed littering or dumping to the Council litter wardens, or carrying out local clean ups. In some cases, the litter warden may obtain evidence to prosecute offenders, but we rely on the public to provide information and evidence if they witness dumping, in order that we may eradicate the litter problem within the County.
The detail of the IBAL report is set out below
IBAL Anti-Litter League 2011,
in conjunction with the Department of the Environment
Tallaght: 42nd out of 53 towns / cities surveyed. Litter Classification – Moderately Littered.
An improved result for Tallaght. Half of the sites surveyed in Tallaght got the top litter grade – many of these were the approach routes. The very high standards of previous IBAL Anti-Litter Surveys have been maintained at the Anglican Communion Church. However, there were two bad sites - The Pedestrian Walkway from Abberly Court Hotel to Tesco, Debenhams etc. was in very poor shape – clearly a more thorough approach to cleaning is required here. By far the worst site surveyed in Tallaght was the Football Pitch at St. Mark’s Celtic FC, Butler Park – there was a blanket of food / drink related litter over the low wall and a constant stream of litter on the pitches – there wasn’t a litter bin / Anti-Litter notice in sight.
Exit 11 from M50 to Tallaght Roundabout: Grade A. A very clean approach route with road surface / signage / markings in good condition.
Approach to Tallaght ByPass from M50 Roundabout: Grade A. Another very good approach road into Tallaght – it was in particularly good condition and there was a virtual absence of litter throughout.
Anglican Communion Church: Grade A. The very high standard of previous IBAL Anti-Litter surveys have been maintained and once again this was a top ranking site. As well as the Graveyard Rules notice there was a very prominent ‘Anti-Litter’ notice directly beside it.
Football Pitch at St. Mark’s Celtic FC, Butler Park: Grade D. This was by far the most heavily littered site surveyed in Tallaght. There was a blanket of food / drink related litter just over the low wall and a constant stream of litter on the pitches. There wasn’t a litter bin or an ‘Anti-Litter’ notice in sight.
Pedestrian Walkway from Abberly Court Hotel area to Tesco, Debenhams etc.: Grade C. This was one of the most heavily littered site surveyed in Tallaght – the shrubbery area was riddled with a wide variety of litter (all of it food and alcohol related), there was broken glass on the brick paving and cigarette butts had become trapped between the bricks. There were several separate incidents of graffiti. Clearly, this busy area needs more attention.
Lucan Exit: Grade B. Some stretches of this road were in pristine condition but the overall grade was let down by some litter at the bus stops – despite the presence of litter bins just beside the bus stop. With a little extra effort this could easily be a top ranking site.
West Park (Residential): Grade B. The individual properties and the extensive grassy area were in good order but unfortunately there was a definite litter presence along the grassland perimeter – the level of litter here was such that if not addressed it could easily become a seriously littered site.
Blessington Road Exit: Grade A. There was a virtual absence of litter along this very busy route – road surface / signage / markings were in very good condition.
An Post / Debenhams etc. at Tallaght Square: Grade A. This was a very good site with paving, planting, seating, bins, bollards etc. all in very good order. The area is well served by plenty of clean and fresh looking litter bins.
Tallaght IT: Grade B. Much of this site was in very good condition but it was let down by litter (all food related) in the hedges and grass verges at the pedestrian entrance to nearby bus stop – if this area was addressed it could easily be a top ranking site.