COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

HEADED ITEM NO.18

HEADED ITEM: P. Realm

Update on Illegal dumping at Kiltalown

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council's team of five (5) Litter Wardens investigate all complaints of illegal dumping and littering as well as patrolling all areas within the County, focusing on particular black spots, which includes the Kiltalown area.

Since January 2014, the Council has received thirty-six (36) complaints in relation to illegal dumping and littering in the Kiltalown area.  The Litter Warden investigated all complaints and interrogated all dumped material for evidence, which resulted in four (4) litter fines being issued in accordance with the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended. Where fines are not paid within the period specified in the Act, legal proceedings are initiated.

The dumping appears to occur outside of office hours and the nature of the material suggests that it is emanating from the households in the area. Where evidence is found, the appropriate enforcement action is always taken. However, increasingly it is found that no personal information relating to the polluters is contained within the dumped material, with personal information having been removed or shredded.  Local residents are urged to support the Council in taking the appropriate enforcement action by making reports to the Litter Warden for investigation and by providing evidence where possible. 

In addition to the work of the Litter Warden Service, the Enforcement and Licensing Section issued letters to 156 residents in the Kiltalown area, pursuant to the South Dublin County Council Household Waste Bye-Laws 2012, in an effort to combat the problem of illegal dumping in the area and to advise residents of their obligations under the Household Waste Bye-Laws. A "Litter and The Law" leaflet was also provided for residents’ information.

Residents are also encouraged, through the medium of the Council’s Social Credits Scheme, to seek rewards for community based initiatives such as community cleanups. Efforts have been made in the past by the Housing Department to establish a Residents’ Association in the Kiltalown area which unfortunately, did not bear fruit.

The Council’s Public Realm Section has carried out 47 cleanups in the Kiltalown area, to date in 2014, at a cost to the Council of €15,000.

Members of the public can make reports of illegal dumping and littering through the following channels: