Illegal dumping continues in Co Louth, despite the county council’s efforts.
Louth County Council recently held a mattress and couch disposal amnesty day on Wednesday, August 31st, 2022, as part of its anti-dumping initiative.
The local authority accepted 1,890 mattresses and 1,795 couches at the V & W Recycling Centres in Dundalk and Drogheda free of charge to prevent the illegal disposal of bulky household items.
A spokesperson for Louth County Council said:
“Despite the free disposal offered, a number of household items were discovered on the roadside by Council staff in Drogheda last week.”
“The items, which included two mattresses, two beds and some electrical items, were reported at Boyne Estuary at Queensborough on the R167 Drogheda to Baltray Road, on Monday. September 5th, 2022, less than a week after the dedicated disposal day.”
In addition, the council were “disappointed” to learn of the outcome of a survey by Irish Business Against Litter.
It rated Clogherhead beach as ‘moderately littered’.
Despite installing two new solar bins and a bin collection service operating six days per week (including Sundays and bank holidays), members of the public have still engaged in littering around the car park area, the council reports.
Cost on taxpayers
Joan Martin, chief executive at Louth County Council, described the findings as “extremely disappointing” given the council’s efforts to facilitate regular waste collection.
Martin said: “I would appeal to the public to utilise the services the council provides and refrain from disposing of household items and waste illegally.”
“Louth County Council will be exploring necessary surveillance measures. We will take appropriate action against any members of the public found to be dumping illegally.”
“Illegal waste disposal forces Louth County Council’s environment crew to divert services from other tasks, placing the cost of the clean-up and disposal on the taxpayer,” Martin concluded.
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