Upsurge in dumping during crisis
WHAT has been described as a ‘worrying increase’ in illegal dumping during the COVID-19 emergency is to be countered by 1m funding to be distributed among local authorities.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has developed an Anti-Dumping Initiative to work in partnership with Cork County Council and community organisations in developing appropriate enforcement responses and carrying out clean-up operations in County Cork.
Fine Gael Councillor Eileen Lynch is calling on Cork County Council to avail of the funding, which is being distributed by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The Anti-Dumpimg Initiative envisages a partnership approach between the Department and the councils which avail of the fund.
“Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a reported rise in illegal dumping, particularly as people clean out their houses and sheds and are using recycling banks more frequently during the pandemic,” said Councillor Lynch.
“There are many environmental problems and health risks caused by illegal dumping, and it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure waste is disposed of in the correct fashion.”
Waste removal and the installation of CCTV or other monitoring and surveillance equipment will be among the activities supported with funds from the Anti-Dumping initiative.
Since the introduction of the Anti-Dumping Initiative in 2017, funding of €6.3 million has been provided which has supported over 700 projects across all 31 local authorities and removed 10,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste.
This is in addition to the €7.4 million annual enforcement grant, which supports the recruitment and retention of 150 local authority waste enforcement personnel across the country.
“The issue of illegal dumping is one that I have previously raised at Municipal level and voiced my dissatisfaction with the low levels of enforcement and penalties for illegal dumping. I appreciate that our Amenity Sites are not functioning at full capacity currently, but that is not an excuse for the amount of illegal dumping that it going on during this COVID crisis.
“The provision of advance funding to local authorities will ensure they can respond quickly and decisively. Illegal dumping is committed by a minority but is a scourge on our local communities and the Trojan work that is done by Tidy Towns groups and community councils.”