COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
MOTION NO. 8
MOTION: Councillor Alan Edge
That this Committee acknowledges the amazing work done by and in partnership with Pure Mile in tackling the ongoing problems of littering and illegal dumping in the upland areas falling within this local area and that members actively seek to promote and raise awareness of the Pure project.
REPORT:
The PURE (Protecting the Uplands & Rural Environment) project was established in 2006 to combat illegal dumping/fly-tipping in the Dublin/Wicklow Uplands. The project consists of statutory and non-statutory stakeholders (South Dublin County Council, Wicklow County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Coillte, National Parks & Wildlife Service, and the Wicklow Uplands Council). The project is funded by the project stakeholders (€122,00) and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (€115,000). South Dublin county Council contributes €20,000 financial funding annually and provides additional staff resources through collection and enforcement staff.
The success of the PURE Project is based on the following actions that increase environmental awareness and engage with communities and groups in rural areas.
- The PURE collection vehicle collects illegally dumped material from the Dublin/Wicklow Upland areas throughout the year, irrespective of the county boundary.
- The PURE project acts as an umbrella organisation to coordinate community/volunteer groups to carry out clean ups of the Dublin/Wicklow Upland Area through the Pure Mile. The groups come from all users of the natural amenity such as local communities, individuals, scouts, beavers, primary schools, walking groups, cycling groups, businesses, and organisations. Currently there are over 100 community/volunteer groups carrying out clean ups on over 550 miles of roadway within the PURE Project area.
- The Pure Project consistently utilise all forms of media to promote the importance of litter and waste prevention in the uplands. This is done through education programs and public awareness campaigns through radio, print and social media. The project operates an active website (www.pureproject.ie) and Facebook page highlighting the clean-up activities in the area.
- Detection and Enforcement of illegal waste activities is coordinated through all Stakeholders with enforcement action being taken by the relevant Local Authority.
Since the formation of the PURE Project, the project has responded to over 12,000 reports of illegal dumping resulting in the removal of 3,500 tonnes of illegally dumped material, from the material collected by the PURE Mile groups and other collections at illegal dumping sites. The success of the project can be seen in the year on year reduction in the collection of illegally dumped material, from its peak 2008 of 436 tonnes, reduced to 150 tonnes removed in 2019. PURE has been extremely successful in reducing illegal dumping in the targeted area, creating awareness of the illegal dumping issue and the impact it has on our environment, engaging with all demographics of society, and establishing a recognisable brand.
Currently the PURE Project stakeholders have concerns in relation to the funding commitments for the project by the DCCAE. Since the establishment of Pure in 2006, the project has submitted five Project Evaluations and Submissions of Extension (2008 – 2011 – 2014 – 2016 – 2019), to the DCCAE in order to be awarded funding on a multiannual basis. The latest submission allowed for the continued development of the project through investment in an urgently needed replacement waste collection vehicle and the recruitment of an administration support. Previous submissions to the DCCAE resulted in a three-year funding commitment. In August 2020, PURE Project received confirmation from the DCCAE that the project would receive funding approval for 2020 only. The DCCAE stated that they were not in a “position to enter into a long-term commitment such as this at this time, the Department recognises and values the work carried out by PURE and is happy to be able to continue to fund the project on an annual basis.” Without a commitment of multiannual funding by the DCCAE, the PURE Project is currently restricted in its ability to commit to long term expenditure, in particular the replacement of the waste collection vehicle. Without the replacement of the vehicle, the PURE Project will be unable to commit the level of response currently experienced by the Local Authorities and the local communities.
South Dublin County Council Environment Section welcomes this motion and, if the members so wish, will convey their support as part of our continued communications with the DCCAE in seeking funding for the project on a multiannual basis.