Huge increase in dumping during Covid-19 crisis
THE current Covid-19 crisis has also led to increased dumping across the county as households under lock-down clear out rubbish. This is despite council-owned amenity sites and private rubbish sites remaining open during the lock-down.
One such incident saw extensive dumping at Mill Road in Killarney in recent days and has drawn strong criticism from the local community. Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Michael Gleeson, said he was contacted with regards to dumping at Mill Road in Killarney on Friday evening and he made the council aware of the incident.
He said the incident showed ‘disrespect’ to the county and to those who live in the community.
“I received very extensive photographic evidence,” he said.
He described the dumping as a “criminal act by thugs”.
“It shows gross disrespect for nearby residents, the community and Killarney as a tourism town.”
Similarly a huge amount of house-hold rubbish was also discovered along the popular walking spot Glanageenty in recent days.
Cllr Fionnán Fitzgerald said that dumping was becoming a regular occurrence across the county in recent weeks.
“People are clearing out their houses and dumping stuff,” he said.
He said that this could in part be due to the limited collection at Civic Amenity sites in the county.
He said other areas of Ballymacelligott hare also blighted by rubbish including in Kielduff while in Killarney dumping has also been highlighted in Kilcummin.
Meanwhile there has also been a marked increase in the dumping of disposable gloves used by the general public during the crisis.
“It is a total contradiction, people are using them for their own safety and then casually throwing them out the window, putting others in danger,” said Cllr Michael w. Kerry County Council said the dumping of disposable gloves in locations across the county poses a public health risk and urged people not to dump them.