COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 09, 2026

QUESTION NO. 1

QUESTION: Councillor D. Adelaide

To ask the Chief Executive to outline the feasibility of providing a waste collection service to estates across the county, or a staggered cut in charges for using Ballymount in the run up to Halloween to limit the quantity of waste burned.

REPLY:

SDCC adopts a cross-departmental approach in relation to the prevention of bonfires at Halloween, working with Public Realm, Waste Enforcement, Environmental Awareness, Library Services, Housing and Community Services to promote the “Safe Halloween” message. Liaison with An Garda Síochána also forms part of this approach, ensuring that actions taken by both SDCC and Gardaí are coordinated and effective.

SDCC continues to engage with local communities by providing information and opportunities for alternate and a safe way to celebrate Halloween. Initiatives include

• Bulbs not bonfires initiative where resident groups are provided with flowering bulbs to plant in their estate to promote pride in their green areas.
• Social media posts advising risk of bonfires to environment and personal safety.
• Each year, the social credits scheme facilitates community groups who are registered on the scheme with the disposal of materials free of charge at the Council's civic amenity site in Ballymount.
• SDCC operates mattress, hazardous chemicals and WEEE amnesty prior to Halloween of each year, to provide disposal of items which frequently is found illegally dumped or burnt on bonfires. As part of the 2025 amnesty, 1,225 mattresses and 8.4 tonnes of hazardous waste was collected free of charge to SDCC residents.
• SDCC, through RecycleIT, operate free door to door electrical recycling collection days in residential areas across South Dublin prior to Halloween.  These collection days are now annual events and help ensure hazardous electrical equipment and batteries don’t find their way onto seasonal Bonfires. 
• In 2025 SDCC’s Samhain and Halloween events held across the County provided creative and fun events for families, including costumes swaps, creepy crafts, silent discos, spooky science, and Storytime sessions across SDCC Libraries. SDCC will continue to work into 2026 to develop fun, creative, and family friendly Halloween events for the whole community.
• SDCC provides contact details for the public to report locations of suspected bonfire material. In the weeks prior to Halloween, SDCC crews, in conjunction with local Gardaí, arrange for the collection of the stockpiled material and ensure its correct disposal. Based on collection data it is estimated 130 tonnes of bonfire material was intercepted prior to Halloween 2025.
• As a large source of the stockpiled material originates from industrial areas, SDCC write to business owners reminding them of their obligations under the Waste Management Act for the correct safe storage and disposal of waste. As required, Waste Enforcement carry out further inspections to ensure compliance with the act.

In relation to the specific request to examine the feasibility of providing a waste collection service to estates across the county or cut in customer charges for using Ballymount civic amenity, current waste management and circular economy legislation focuses on the recovery rather than the disposal of waste. The introduction of landfill and waste recovery levies is reflective of the cost associated with the disposal of waste. The cost of the levy is imposed on the end user, to ensure wider society prioritises the principle of reduce, reuse, recycle and discourage the dumping of unsegregated waste. Existing private authorised waste collectors are available to be used by SDCC residents. Residents are encouraged to visit mywaste.ie (How to deal with waste at home - My Waste) to ensure collectors have the appropriate waste disposal permissions.

Ballymount Civic Amenity promotes the principle of reduce, reuse, recover, through the provision of facilities allowing the segregations and recovery of waste. Prior to visiting the facility, members of the public are encouraged to review the council website (Recycling Centres - SDCC) where details of materials accepted, including items accepted free of charge, are listed. The website also provides details of the gate fees applicable to customers, which have remained unchanged since 2016, despite the increase of landfill and waste recovery levies. Based on an assessment of neighbouring LA civic amenity sites and privately operated facilities, the current SDCC gate fees are comparable if not lower for typical car users. It should also be noted, of the 146,727 vehicles received at Ballymount civic amenity in 2025, approximately 22% incurred no charge due to appropriate segregation and recovery of disposed material.  

Based on the extensive level of services currently provided on the lead up to Halloween, SDCC does not believe there is a need to provide additional waste collection services in housing estates. SDCC does not recommend the reduction of waste disposal costs for specific times of the year, as this will likely result in an increase in the storing and hoarding of waste, resulting in issues such as attracting vermin, increased risk of fire and general litter/waste management issues. As always, SDCC Public Realm team are available to work with the elected members and communities, to identify additional or alternate methods to help reduce the occurrence of bonfires and promote the value of our parks and green spaces.