CCTV cameras proving a deterrent to illegal dumping

SOME people in Kerry have suddenly become camera-shy as it has emerged that CCTV monitoring of selected areas in Kerry is proving to be a deterrent to illegal dumpers.

Kerry Co Council is also considering placing multi-lingual signs at bring banks so that the purpose of such facilities can be made clear to tourists and resident foreign nationals.

The council has been grappling with serious problems caused by people who leave domestic rubbish and other waste at bring banks which are only for glass, cans and other recyclable products.

However, acting senior executive engineer John Ahern yesterday told councillors officials were looking at the possibility of setting up temporary cameras at bring banks in the county.

“We know that such cameras are already successful in preventing people from leaving waste at certain locations,” he told a meeting in Castleisland.

Killarney’s Cllr Michael Gleeson proposed that recycling containers in the town be emptied three days per week. “This is important to prevent material being left adjacent to the containers when they are already full,” he explained.

There are three bring bank locations in the town and a company has been appointed to undertake collection once a week at two of the locations and once a fortnight at the third.

Mr Ahern said all locations were inspected and cleaned daily by the Killarney Town Council staff.

In the event of bring banks being full, staff had been instructed to contact the company responsible for collection.

Mr Ahern pointed out collection on three days per week would increase costs, adding that the bins might not be always full if the collectors came around that frequently.

Cllr Danny Healy-Rae proposed the placing of multi-lingual signs at bottle banks.

Director of services John Breen said consideration would be given to multi-lingual signage at budget preparation time.