COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, February 23, 2015

HEADED ITEM NO.4

HEADED ITEM: 4

Update on Litter problem - Tallaght Area

REPLY:

While litter continues to pose significant challenges for the Council across the county, it is a key objective of the Environment, Water and Climate Change Directorate to improve the aesthetic appearance of our County in the interest of its Economic Development, the quality of life of its residents and the great benefit to the community. 

The Council's Litter Warden Services (5 Wardens) patrol the county and identify black spots on a regular basis. All incidents of illegal dumping are interrogated for evidence and appropriate enforcement action taken, where possible. Unfortunately however, as previously reported, it is proving more difficult to retrieve evidence from dumped material to identity polluters.

The Council applies the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 in dealing with this problem.

A review of delivery / non delivery of the objectives of the 2011 -2014 Litter Management Plan was recently undertaken and was  presented to the February 2015 Environment SPC.    This review highlighted that approx 12,800 litter picking tasks were scheduled across the county per year and approx 2,850 fly-tipping clean ups are scheduled per year.

The outcome of the review is now informing the setting of new objectives for the 2015-2017 Litter Management Plan and on how we approach the issue of litter over the next three years.  

This approach may include but is not exhaustive:

• developing programmes to target various litter categories, blackspots and illegal means of disposing of waste/refuse
• potential for wider use of CCTV
• improved litter disposal systems
• improved use of green areas / open spaces
• greater emphasis on sectoral / individual responsibilities

It is expected that the new Litter Management Plan will be ready for formal public consultation in May 2015 and adoption of the Council in Q4 2015.

The following outlines the position in relation to alleged polluters in the Tallaght areas since 1st January 2015:

• Received via Fix Your Street – 41 complaints
• Received via Membersnet – 10 complaints
• Recorded on the ECS – 28 complaints
• A total of 12 fines and 1 Notice (requiring the removal of litter) have issued to alleged polluters in the Tallaght area since 1st January 2015

We have recently received quotations for CCTV at a well known blackspot in the Tallaght area, and are currently arranging for the procurement and installation of these cameras.   The success of these cameras will then be monitored and evaluated to determine their ongoing merits and for potential installation at alternative locations across the county where similar type problems present on an ongoing basis.

As always the Council continues to encourage all citizens to respect their community and environment, and to report instances of littering and illegal dumping, and to where possible assist the Council with identification of known culprits in order to bring successful convictions.