*Illegal dumping in Meelick. Photograph: John Mangan
Public enjoyment of nature has been hampered by an increased incidence of illegal dumping during the pandemic while the people of Clare have been urged to be more vigilant around waste collection.
Establishing a temporary action group “to tackle illegal dumping and fly tipping” for a period of 12 to 18 months was put forward by Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) at a meeting of Clare County Council’s Physical Development SPC.
Environmental representative, James Gillar voiced his support for a taskforce on illegal dumping as did Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF). “It effects adversely our enjoyment of nature and we’ve all come back to nature because of the pandemic,” she stated.
Efforts to deal with illegal dumping are not having the desired results, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) believed. “The local authority unfortunately have an awful lot of time, effort and funding put into illegal dumping over the last couple of years but I don’t see it improving”.
Director of Service, Carmel Kirby agreed that the outdoors and the county landscape was being enjoyed more by the Clare public over the past twelve months. “I think the people can most help us with illegal dumping is the public itself, as long as the public is retaining unauthorised waste collection services who are in turn dumping illegally across our landscape, that is where the primary problem lies,” she outlined.
GDPR is currently prohibiting the Council from using CCTV to monitor illegal dumping while a request is currently with the Garda Commissioner seeking an exemption. “We are taking people to Court, there are fines but when we get to Court it is not always looked on favourably to give out the big fines,” Kirby commented.
