COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 09, 2024

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor N. Whelan

This Council calls on the Chief Executive to immediately reverse the policy of removing public bins from this county as a method of reducing illegal dumping of domestic waste and requests that all public bins removed for this reason are replaced as a matter of urgency.

REPORT:

The details of litter bins removed within the county in the last 12 months and which were not replaced are set out below. A total of 10 bins have been removed and not replaced, five of these due to repeated vandalism and five due to repeated dumping of domestic waste both in and around the bin.  A number of other bins have been removed temporarily from other locations for a variety of reasons, to accommodate works of one kind or another for example, and these will be reinstated in due course.  Some bins have also been removed and replaced at other locations nearby, to improve servicing or to resolve certain issues at the particular location. 

Where a litter bin is repeatedly vandalised then it is not viable or sustainable to continue to replace the bin at that location and bins in such circumstances will be removed where this is considered necessary.  There are many litter bins where illegal dumping and disposal of household waste occurs on a small scale and these are left in place.  It is only where the problem occurs at a serious level which prevents the proper servicing of the litter bin or the proper use of the bin by others that the bin is removed.  It is expected that this course of action will continue to be required in some instances however it is proposed that a process will be put in place to fully and thoroughly examine the situation before a decision is taken to remove a bin.  This process will involve investigation by the litter warden service, possible use of CCTV to monitor the situation with the final decision on the matter to be taken at a senior level before any action is taken. It should be noted that the Council's Public Realm Section services approximately 900 litter bins across the county in both on-street and park locations, the 10 bin removals which are listed and which have taken place over the past 12 months is considered to be a very small number in the context of the overall number of bins in service. Additional provision was made in the 2024 revenue budget which has resulted in the number of litter bins in service increasing from 850 to approximately 900, and this number will increase further by end of year.  A total of 51 litter bins have also been replaced in the year to date.  It is proposed that additional funding in 2024 as well as proposed additional funding in 2025 for litter bins can be used to commence a programme to provide smart compactor  litter bins in town and village centres initially.  

Litter bin removals.

  1. One bin removed from Whitechurch shopping centre because of constant dumping of household waste in and around it, there is another bin nearby.
  2. Two bins removed from Woodford Walk due to repeated vandalism.
  3. Two bins removed from St Johns Drive due to repeated vandalism.
  4. One bin removed at Maplewood Road Springfield as it was being used for the dumping of domestic waste.
  5. One bin removed at the N81 Jobstown as it was being repeatedly vandalised.
  6. One bin at Fortunestown Road outside Lidl was being used for disposal of domestic waste.
  7. One bin at Parklands Road was being used for disposal of domestic waste.
  8. One bin at Foxdene entrance demolished by a car, not replaced due to constant dumping of domestic waste.