COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

To ask the chief executive to consider installation of dog waste litter bins. Its been acknowledged many times that our litter bins take all rubbish including dog litter. The policy in our council is NOT introduce dog litter bins. A lot of the discussions around provision of bins/dog litter bins is based on those that DONT make the effort to dispose of their litter in a civic minded manner and not enough emphasis on introducing dog litter bins to make it easier for the REST of the members of the public, this is unfortunate as those that act within the byelaws, go beyond their responsibilities at times. should be main focus on debates around our continuous requests to bring in dog litter bins. its been said by so many people in particular via social media forums that they go outside their county only to see dog litter bins in place everywhere. Therefore is it unreasonable to ask that the Chief Executive gives serious consideration to bringing in these dog litter bins which would be welcomed by those that would gladly use them.

REPLY:

A review of the litter bin service was carried out under the remit of the Environment, Climate and Public Realm SPC commencing in November 2016 and concluding in February 2017, with reports presented to both of those SPC meetings. The review examined the issue of dog litter specific bins. The review concluded that the provision of dog litter specific bins would require a major change to the existing collection operation.   It is not Council policy to provide separate bins for separate types of waste. There has been no change to this position since the review was conducted.

Every bin provided by the Council, of which there are approximately 800 around the county both on-street and in public parks, is available for the disposal of light litter including dog waste which has been properly bagged and this is considered to be the best approach.

Under Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, where faeces has been deposited by a dog in any place to which the section applies, the person in charge of the dog shall immediately remove the faeces and shall ensure that it is properly disposed of in a suitable sanitary manner. 

SDCC have continued to raise awareness of the issue of dog fouling and has mounted a number of campaigns on radio, newspapers and on social media in that regard.

The Green Dog Walkers Programme is a non-confrontational, friendly way to change people's attitudes about dog fouling.  It is a community based scheme which volunteers in the community can adopt and promote in their own area.  Members of the public can apply through Social Credits at www.socialcredits.ie 

Volunteers who become Green Dog Walkers are provided with an armband and bone shaped bag dispenser and commit to the following -