Fight against illegal dumping steps up

LOCAL authority officials have identified more than 120 illegal dumps in Co Cork and, to date, around 50 prosecutions have been initiated, some of which have been dealt with by the courts.

The council, in conjunction with gardaí, intends to step up the battle against illegal operators.

This will involve roadblocks and checks on lorries carrying refuse and also following suspect vehicles to their destinations.

The introduction of pay-by-weight billing countywide is leading to concerns that more waste will be dumped illegally in remote areas.

A spokeswoman for the council revealed 238 applications for waste permits had been received.

“Approximately 200 have been granted and we need more information on others Since the introduction of the Waste Permitting Regulations, over 120 facilities have been investigated for unauthorised activities. A number of these have been closed on foot of investigations,” the spokeswoman said.

“Over 50 prosecutions have arisen from such investigations.

“Some of the prosecutions have been successful in the courts while others have been adjourned, or are progressing through the legal process,” she said.

Meanwhile, councillors discussed the possibility of setting up a pilot scheme to report litter louts.

The call was from Councillor John Gilroy, who wants the scheme set up initially around Glanmire.

The Labour councillor said most casual littering was caused by carelessness and thoughtlessness.

“A deterrent might concentrate people’s minds, and there’s no better way than hitting people in the pocket,” Cllr Gilroy said.

He proposed signs with a lo-call number be erected in the satellite town and people urged to report litter louts to the local authority.

The move was seconded by Cllr Dan Fleming (FF), but his party colleague, Cllr Deirdre Forde, had some reservations.

“I’d be concerned that complaints could be spurious. I’m also worried that there would be a problem checking them,” the Douglas-based councillor said.

Fine Gael’s Cllr Noel O’Connor also expressed reservations. “There’s a touch of the Big Brother about it,” he said.

However FG leader on the council, Cllr Peter Kelly, thought it a novel idea which might work.

It was agreed by councillors to refer the matter to a specialist committee on the environment, which will meet soon to decide the issue.

A number of schools in the Southern Division area, which is due to be the last region in the county to introduce pay-by-weight billing, have written to parents advising them children will be obliged to take leftovers from their lunches home in future.

This is being seen as an effort to cut down on costs associated with refuse collection.