COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

QUESTION NO. 1

QUESTION: Councillor P. Kearns

To ask could the manager explain what further action can be taken against a repeat offender under the air pollution act?

REPLY:

Under the Air Pollution Act, 1997 it is an offence to cause air pollution. Only “approved solid fuel”, as defined in the Air Pollution Act 1997 (Solid Fuels) regulations 2022, may be "used for the purposes of combustion for heating in a fireplace"

In accordance with the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended, it is a criminal offence for any person to store/treat/transport/dump waste in a manner that is likely to cause environment pollution. Furthermore, the Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulations 2009 (2009 Regulations), prohibits Households from burning waste on their property.

The County of South Dublin (Segregation, Storage and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Bye-Laws 2018, prescribes how householders are to store, segregate and present of household waste for collection.

There is a temporary exemption in place to the 2009 Regulations in place which allowed farmers to burn agricultural green waste until 1st March 2023 and then from 1st September 2023 to 30th November 2023. A Farmer must notify the Local Authority in advance of the intention to burn agricultural green waste.

Cllr. might advise Environmental Health if there is a particular persistent problem / location(s) so that the matter can be properly addressed.