COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 10, 2017

QUESTION NO.1

QUESTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

To ask the Manager for clarification on the current policy on the provision of dog dirt bins in parks, as this issue is continuously raised by elected representatives, and to outline whether management would facilitate provision of same if directed by a majority members in the next budget to provide a specific allocation, or whether a wider change to the Council's policy would be required and if so to indicate how the members could make this happen under existing powers.

REPLY:

At present there are 122 litter bins in public parks.

As per the litter bin protocol contained in the Litter Management Plan 2015 to 2019 these are in general provided in the large regional parks, with some exceptions. The current provision is believed to be adequate for the most part with an issue pertaining to the provision of bins at the Tymon Park / Castletymon Road car park having been identified and this will be addressed in the 2017 work programme.

Following a recent Litter Bin Review which was recently considered at SPC level, no change is proposed in relation to the provision of bins for dog waste.

A specific service for collection and disposal of dog litter would require a major change to the existing collection operation. Provision of dog litter specific bins and trucks would be required and the waste would need to be handled separately from other litter bin waste.

The provision of standard litter bins which can accept all types of waste including dog waste (properly bagged) is considered the best approach in this regard.  

Every bin provided by the Council, of which there are in excess of 650, whether on street or in a public park is available for the disposal of light litter including dog waste and is considered the best approach.  

It was suggested at a recent Area Committee Meeting that the Council examine the potential to apply stickers/stencils to some litter bins in order to make the public aware that properly bagged dog foul can be disposed of in those bins and this will be examined.