COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, June 14, 2021
QUESTION NO. 12
QUESTION: Councillor Peter Kavanagh
To ask the Chief Executive what additional measures have been taken to tackle dumping in our public parks during weekends and periods of high demand and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY:
South Dublin County Council parks have seen a large 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 servicing of litter bins in parks at weekends is a relatively new aspect of the cleansing and litterbin service, it was introduced in the first instance on bank holiday weekends in the four main parks and was then increased in the early days of Covid 19 restrictions to cover all park litter bins being serviced once over each weekend as well as on bank holidays when they occur. In light of ongoing issues regarding overflowing bins in a number of park locations, arrangements are being made for the installation of additional bins at these locations, a commitment has been given to the installation of 30 additional litter bins mostly in park locations and these bin installations have now been completed. These additional bins are considered a temporary measure and may be removed or relocated at a later date when restrictions are eased and usage of the park and park litter bins returns to normal. A commitment was also given to a trial of 1,100 litre wheeled containers in car parks at Tymon, Corkagh, Griffeen and Dodder Valley Parks in a response to the need for additional capacity to handle litter and waste in parks in the current circumstances. It is planned that these containers will be in place ahead of the June bank holiday weekend, a total of 9 such containers are to be provided, one at each of 9 car park locations at the parks listed above. The situation will continue to be monitored over the coming days and weeks and further measures will be considered if required.
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 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 apply the 'Leave no trace' principle and to take their waste home for disposal if at all possible and to deal with their waste items in a responsible manner.
The Council would like to direct members of the public to the www.mywaste.ie website as well as to the Council website www.sdccc.ie for information and tips on good environmental practice in the management and recycling of waste.