COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, October 14, 2013
MOTION NO. 5
MOTION: Councillor T. Gilligan
That this Council calls on the Manager to offers free access to the Civic Waste Facility in Ballymount to residents in South Dublin in October, as was the case last year, in an effort to reduce illegal dumping
REPORT:
Following Hallowe'en 2012 discussion with Members regarding the significant costs and other issues associated with this scheme, a review the effectiveness of the free access to the Civic Amenity scheme in dealing with anti social activity at Halloween has been carried out. This initiative has been in place since 2010 and its objective was to reduce bonfires and the environmental damage caused at Halloween in an effective way. Analysis of the operation of the scheme over the last 3 years shows -
- No significant reduction in bonfires in the last 3 years
- An increase in the cost of operating the scheme
- Increasing logistical issues resulting in significant safety issues at the Civic Amenity site and on the surrounding areas
- No increase in streams of waste accepted at the site that might be expected to rise if material was being diverted from bonfires
With the cost of waste disposal having continued to increase over the last year and incomes from gate receipts down at the site, the financial analysis of the scheme make it unaffordable in 2013.
It is intended to allocate free access passes to the Civic Amenity through the Social Credit System during the month of October which will be redeemable before the end of October. This will be used as a reward for groups who are actively involved in their community and in making their place a better place for everyone. It is expected that this will reduce the cost of the scheme to a more manageable level and to remove the logistical issues associated with this event in 2012.
It is also intended to add a Half Price Access to the Civic Amenity Credit to the Social Credits Scheme on a on going basis.
Halloween statistics:
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Bonfires numbers | 390 | 351 | 393 |
Statistics on Free access to Civic Amenity Ballymount.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Vehicles free access | c 1000* | 1012 | 1387 |
| Tonnes | 163 | 181 | 242 |
| Total Cost | 15,575 | 30,215 | 56,321 |
Please note vehicle numbers for 2010 are estimated