Tackling scourge of illegal dumping

ILLEGAL dumping, a dreadful problem in Ireland for years, is getting worse, with the recession being cited as one of the main reasons: some experts now reckon this activity has increased by up to 30% in the past year.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) says it has reached ‘epidemic proportions’, while security companies and local authorities have taken to installing hidden cameras at blackspot locations favoured by the dumpers all around the country. Teams of volunteers can also been seen picking up other people’s litter along our roads.

For such reasons, a new Waterford company, called BIGbin, that says it can help to reduce illegal dumping and the amount of unrecorded waste, which might normally be burned, left in ditches, or just thrown anywhere, is to be welcomed. The idea is to provide a service to people outside of the traditional waste streams to dispose of their rubbish in a manner that is convenient for them and environmentally safe. They could be people on tight budgets, singles, couples, small households, empty nesters, pensioners and holiday home owners.