Invest in CCTV to stop dumping
SEVENTY FIVE bags of rubbish were collected in one 40 house estate in Wexford town.
Labour Cllr George Lawlor highlighted the issue, saying he was out with around 20 volunteers from Wexford Tidy Towns in early February and the group collected 75 bags, mattresses, bed bases; three lorry loads of rubbish in the space of a few hours in Brendan Corish Gardens.
Cllr Lawlor said a small minority of residents of the estate were responsible for the dumping.
‘ This is a plague in every community in this county and country. The rubbish isn’t coming from Ballycanew, it is coming from our immediate area. We have to do something about tackling this scourge of fly tipping and dumping.’
Cllr Lawlor urged the council to invest in more CCTV cameras for litter and dumping blackspots, saying one camera placed in a notorious dumping spot in the area has been very effective in identifying repeat dumpers. He called on the council’s executive to lobby the Government for funding to help tackle the amount of dumping. ‘When you pay your rent, part of that money should be set aside to provide a bin as well. You should have to prove your are dumping your waste in an environmentally friendly manner and if not pay a fine.’
Cllr Willie Fitzharris said the Data Commissioner has weighed in on dumping. ‘ The Data Commissioner has stated that they would not be in favour of bin services providing or giving information which would hamper a case.’