Galway City Council to crack down on illegal dumping

A new anti-dumping awareness campaign It’s Not in Our Nature – Is it in Yours? for the Connacht Ulster Waste Region has been launched to create awareness around illegal dumping.

This comes as significant funding has been made available by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to tackle the issue.

Galway City Council has been allocated €53,263. A schedule of clean ups will take place over the summer months in areas including Sliabh Ban, Ballybane and the Dyke Road.

A clean up and an Awareness Campaign will take place in Westside, which will include engaging a consultant to complete a door-to-door survey.

This campaign is a proactive step to support the work being undertaken by Galway City Council and is being delivered in partnership with the Regional Waste Authorities.

Speaking at the campaign launch, Minister Naughten said: “I very much welcome the regional campaign which will further support this year’s Anti-Dumping Initiative framework.

“Not only will a wide range of clean-up projects led by Local Authorities take place, in addition, some Local Authorities have also sought funding for overt and covert surveillance equipment and drone technology to target dumpers.

“The aim is to reduce illegal dumping by providing funding for projects tackling the problem and to develop an integrated and effective combined approach with local authorities, communities and other state agencies.

“I am also delighted to announce that my Department has provided €61,500 for 22 mattress amnesty events which will take place across the region during the summer months.”

The new regional awareness campaign will support extensive clean-ups undertaken by local authorities throughout the nine local authority areas in the region– Cavan, Donegal, Galway City and County, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo.

The importance of a clean green environment is critical in terms of making our region a better place in which to live, work and do business

Sean Scott, Regional Waste Enforcement Co-ordinator said: “Our overall aim is to eliminate unsightly illegal dumps and further protect our environment both in rural and urban settings as well as engaging with the public to ensure that areas remain clean once clean-ups have taken place.

“Significant costs are associated with cleaning up illegally dumped waste and there is an onus on all citizens to dispose of waste in the correct manner.

“I also welcome the Ministers support for a mattress amnesty.  Householders should contact their Local Authority for details of mattress amnesty events that are taking place,” said Mr. Scott.

Gary McMahon, Galway City Council said: “There is still a cohort of people who are irresponsible in disposing of their waste which ultimately results in small and large scale illegal dumps and to those individuals we appeal to cease this activity.

“Householders are being alerted to the fact that they are obliged to provide evidence of where they dispose of their waste and can be held responsible and fined for illegal dumping.

“Householders should retain receipts as proof.”

Members of the public are being called upon to continue to play their part by ensuring to dispose of waste responsibly using a permitted service and to take the time to report sightings of illegal dumping to the local authority or through the Environmental Protection Agencies reporting app SEE IT, SAY IT at www.epa.ie/enforcement/report/seeit/.