Warning on flytipping and illegal dumping
The problem of illegal dumping and fly tipping shows no sign of slowing down with a number of incidents reported over the Christmas and New Year period.
Sinn Féin activist and local election candidate Eugene Garvey has called on the public to be mindful of how and where their rubbish is being disposed.
This follows on calls he received from residents of Oakland Park who discovered bulk items discarded in an alleyway in the area.
‘ There was a suite of furniture, a mattress that had been set on fire and even garden items like trees just dumped there,’ he said. ‘I talked to a few of the residents and they reported seeing a van in the area and believe this is where the rubbish came from.’
Eugene reminded people that ‘ paying ‘a man with a van’ to come and collect rubbish from your home does not exonerate you from responsibility or possible prosecution, even if you have paid someone in good faith.’
‘It is the responsibility of the householder to ensure they use licenced waste collectors to dispose of their rubbish,’ he continued. ‘If these people are paid to take away your items and end up dumping them in an alleyway or at a beauty spot, then it is still the householder that will face prosecution as it is their responsibility to ensure it has been disposed of appropriately.’
He urged people to be particularly vigilant this time of year when they have extra rubbish to get rid off.
A quantity of carpet was dumped at Bellurgan Point just before Christmas and has since been removed by Louth County Council.