Litter fines not being paid in Kerry

TWO-THIRD of all litter fines in Kerry remain unpaid as Kerry County Council attempt to battle littering across the county

According to statistics released by the council, 116 on-spot-fines were issued last year. However, only 39 of those were paid. The council also revealed that 11 convictions for littering were secured last year.

The normal fine for littering is €150 with a maximum fine of €3,000.

A total of 820 cases of littering were investigated across the county by Kerry County Council in 2017. This is an increase from 676 in 2017.

The 2017 Litter Report, presented at a recent council meeting, shows that 427 incidents of littering were investigated in Tralee – the highest of any municipal district in Kerry. In Tralee 70 fines were issued and seven convictions were secured.

In Killarney and Listowel, littering investigations are lower with 129 investigated in Killarney and 146 in Listowel. Out of these seven on the spot fines were issued in Killarney and 15 in Listowel. No convictions were secured in Killarney and there were three convictions in Listowel.

118 cases of littering were investigated in South and West Kerry, resulting in 24 on-the-spot fines and one conviction.

The increase in the number of littering investigations come alongside an increase of more than five tonnes of litter collected by litter wardens in 2017 compared to 2018.

In total 28 tonnes of fly-tipping was collected by litter wardens in 2017 in locations across Kerry.

A total of 211 tonnes of litter were also collected at official Kerry County Council sites and at the county’s clean up day last April. This was an increase of almost 38 tonnes, from 83.86 tonnes of collected in 2016.

This huge increase in littering is affecting the county and must be tackled, according to council officials.

“It is especially crucial for our county to maintain its reputation as being a clean place to visit, given the role tourism plays in the county,” said Council Director of Services, John Breen.

The public must play a role in tackling littering and this year the council will use CCTV and phones to attempt to try and reduce littering.

Last year €39,971 was spent by Kerry County Council on tackling illegal dumping, which was used for surveillance, removal of illegally dumped waste and the purchase of cameras.

€2.134m was spent on street cleaning in 2017 to help keep the county’s towns and villages clean and tidy.

According to the council’s 2017 Litter Report cigarettes account for the most waste collected. A survey carried out in Kerry in 2016 on litter composition found cigarette waste accounted for 58.67% of all litter collected. Figures are not available for 2107 but cigarette litter did reduce from 2015 to 2016.

Food related littering and packaging comes next accounting for just over 16% and 11.21% respectively in 2016. However, this is an increase on 2015.

Illegal dumping on the coast road between Tarbert and Ballylongford.