COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE
Monday, March 22, 2021
QUESTION NO.1
QUESTION: Councillor M. Duff
Allowing for the increased numbers of visitors to Tymon Park on the weekends, could the Manager arrange to have the litter bins in the Park emptied, during the day, on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors are posting photographs of overflowing bins on social media and this does not create a good image for the Council.
REPLY:
SDCC parks have seen a huge increase in footfall and usage of facilities during the various periods and levels of Covid 19 restrictions, particularly during those periods where movement has been restricted to within a 5km radius of home. This has resulted in an increase in usage of litter bins and unfortunately an increase in litter in parks in general. South Dublin County Council put in place increased cleaning and litter bin servicing in April/May 2020 and this has remained in place at all times throughout the pandemic, at a substantial increase in cost to the Council. The need has now arisen to reconsider the current arrangements in light of a renewed increase in park usage with days lengthening and weather improving, as the Covid 19 restrictions remain in place. This matter is now being considered and additional measures will be implemented to deal with the increased bin usage in the coming days.
It is clear that litter is at times being left beside and on top of litter bins by people using the parks for legitimate purposes. It is most likely the case that these park users see this as responsible disposal of waste items such as coffee cups etc however these items usually end up on the ground, scattered around the park and contributing to the litter problem. The Council would like to appeal to all park users as follows –
- If a litter bin is full, please do not leave litter or bagged dog waste beside the bin or on top of it. Instead please either take your waste home or put it in another litter bin.
- Weekends are particularly busy in our parks during lockdown. While the parks litter bins are serviced over the weekends and at bank holidays, it is not always possible to service bins before they become full nor is it possible to service them multiple times in one day. The Council would like to appeal to park users to take their waste home for disposal if at all possible and to deal with their waste items in a responsible manner.