Calls for tougher stance on illegal dumping

Tougher fines and punishments for illegal dumping have been called for by an Independent county councillor.

According to Cllr Tom Crosby repeat offenders are flaunting the law, costing the council tens of thousands of euro and damaging local tourist attractions.

Cllr Crosby recently received further information from the council, following on from his question asking how much the local authority is spending on littering and illegal dumping across the county.

In total, €1.8 million was spent between July 2024 and June of this year on waste and litter management. This includes €65,360 directly arising from illegal dumping. Of this, €9,526 was generated from fines. The total amount also includes salaries of staff involved in waste and litter management, the operation of civic amenity sites in Boyle, Castlerea, Ballaghaderreen, and Roscommon, and funding for raising awareness of the consequences of illegal dumping.

Also among this expenditure is €53,669 in legal expenses relating to litter enforcement and waste management activities, and €59,860 for anti-dumping initiatives related to bulky goods and other measures.

Currently, the on the spot fine for littering is €150 and the maximum fine on conviction in court is €3,000.

Cllr Crosby said that the case for tougher action on dumping is clear. “The penalties are way too low in comparison with other countries. The same penalties have been in place for as long as I am on the council, that’s 35 years,” he said. He highlighted that popular fishing areas of the Shannon have been subject to repeated fly tipping, damaging the county's tourism.

“I am calling for much tougher penalties, which should include community service work with Tidy Towns groups, for repeated offenders. Anyone caught dumping bags of rubbish should be fined a minimum of €500,” he said. “These people are obviously trying to avoid paying the wheelie bin charge so it should be at least that. These measures would reduce dumping by 70-80 per cent, saving the councils, the tax payer and the rate payer.” 

He warned that the problem is only going to get worse unless it is tackled, and he called for councillors to be given powers to enact by-laws increasing the fines.