Eighty dumping complaints made in less than five weeks
In recent weeks, the issue of illegal dumping has reared its ugly head in Cavan with numerous sightings reported around the county, writes Ultan Sherry.
Cavan County Council has already received 80 complaints of illegal dumping since the beginning of this year. The figure was provided last Friday by the local authority to this newspaper, less than five weeks into the new year.
The council also revealed that there had been 687 litter complaints made to it in 2015, and a further 645 last year. However, if complaints in 2017, continue at the same rate the figures will will far out-strip previous years, topping 800 complaints.
“Cavan County Council recognised that the scale of illegal dumping had increased and recently recruited an additional litter warden. As such, the local authority employs three litter wardens, an environment awareness officer and two waste enforcement officers,” said a spokesperson.
She emphasised that the local authority takes littering and illegal dumping seriously and pursues those found responsible through legal channels.
“It should be noted that all complaints received by Cavan County Council are fully investigated and, where possible, litter fines are issued under the Litter Pollution Act 1997 as amended, moreover, in the event of more serious large scale dumping, notices are issued under the Waste Management Act 1996 as amended which may result in subsequent prosecutions in court.”
Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, 102 litter fines were issued in 2016, 151 litter fines in 2015 and 223 litter fines in 2014. So far this year, the local authority has issued 32 litter fines to alleged offenders.
Last year, the council secured 11 successful prosecutions for litter offences. Similarly, the local authority secured 13 successful prosecutions for more serious waste offences.
Ballymackinroe incident
Last week, The Anglo-Celt published a letter to the editor in which a reader highlighted floating debris in the Cavan River washing up on to the banks in the Ballymackinroe area, between Butlersbridge and Cavan Town.
Asked if they were made aware of this incident, the local authority replied:
'Cavan County Council are not aware of illegal dumping at this location. However, if further details can be provided, I will arrange for our litter wardens to investigate.'
Sign of the times
Following the publication of this letter, another photo was sent in by a woman who prefers to remain annonymous. It shows a matress dumped at the side of a road underneath a 'NO DUMPING' sign.
The picture was taken in the Pullamore area of Cavan Town, where ironically there are cameras along the road.
'I actually took the photograph as a joke more than anything else but it took some nerve for somebody to put the matress where it was put,' the woman told the Celt.
'It does make me angry though because it would take more than one person to lift a bed mattress,' she continued.
“My issue with this case is that they cheekily put the mattress under a €4,000 ‘no dumping’ sign,' the woman concluded.
The council has confirmed to the Celt that the litter warden attended this site on February 1 and removed the mattress.
Cavan County Council has adopted a new Litter Management Plan for 2016 – 2019, which sets out the objectives and actions to create a litter-free Cavan. It includes three specific objectives: Education and Awareness, Enforcement and Prevention and Partnership with communities and businesses.
“The scale of illegal dumping in County Cavan has increased over the past number of years and this is reflected in the increase of litter and waste complaints received. However, County Cavan is not the only county to see such increases in illegal dumping,” explained the spokesperson.
PENALTIES
The legal definition of 'litter' extends from small bits of paper or cigarette ends to anything (whether large or small) that is, or is likely to become, unsightly. The Litter Pollution Act 1997 provides for penalties for people who litter.
Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence that can be subject to an on-the-spot fine of €150. Litter wardens or gardaí have the power to issue such on-the-spot fines. If they go unpaid within a specified timeframe and the case comes before the District Court, if found guilty, the defendant faces a maximum fine of €3,000.