COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

MOTION NO. 19

MOTION: Councillor A. Hayes

That SDCC undertake a public information campaign utilising social media, website, community newsletters and other relevant mediums to convey the message that dumping domestic garden waste is illegal and highlight the process by which community groups and individuals caring for areas of the public space can have this waste collected.

REPORT:

SDCC is committed to increasing awareness on dumping of domestic garden waste which if incorrectly disposed of it becomes litter and/or illegal waste. SDCC has recently updated its garden waste signage and where requested, garden waste signage is erected on light poles in areas impacted by illegal dumping of garden waste. The Environmental Awareness section provides updates to residents, via social media posts, to encourage responsible disposal of garden clippings and similar garden waste in the householders own domestic bin or compost unit.

While over 1,750 community group waste collections have been carried out in 2026 to date, SDCC do not provide bags for private garden waste collection through the Social Credit Scheme.  Any green waste that is not from community clean ups, communal green areas and green areas, in public spaces, is illegally dumped waste and the garden waste awareness campaign highlights that it is illegal to dump garden waste. On the spot fines of €150 can be issued by SDCC Anti-Litter wardens.

The public information campaign will be extended to include SDCCs newsletter and more frequent social media posts over the summer period to include the promotion of composting at home. Home composting helps reduce the amount of garden waste and re-uses valuable nutrients that would have otherwise gone to waste. 

SDCC frequently engages with Community and Tidy Towns Groups caring for public space areas and in 2025, SDCC funded in excess of €62,500, through the social credit scheme and over €82,000 to Tidy Towns groups. The Environmental Awareness section provide community clean up materials to volunteers, including signage, litter pickers, gloves, refuse sacks, biodegradable leaf bags and gardening tools.  In 2025, over 5,500 waste material collections were arranged by SDCC in support of the work completed by volunteers and access to Biodiversity experts is also provided to community groups and schools via the Environmental Awareness team.