Roche to get tough with illegal waste operators

The Minister for the Environment, Mr Roche, is considering new guidelines to force illegal waste operators and landowners to remove refuse from illegal dumps rather than treat it on site.

The Minister said he was "determined that the policy of dealing aggressively with those who engage in environmental crime will be intensified", and he intended to meet the director general of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "to discuss urgently the scope for accelerating and sharpening action against illegal waste operations".

Mr Roche said all environmentally harmful material, including household waste, should be removed from illegal dumps and recyclable materials, including builders rubble, should also be taken out.

The Minister also said he was determined that "not one cent of taxpayers' money should be lost in the clean-up operations", and he expected the illegal dump sites across the country "to be remediated to the highest possible standards, whatever it takes".

Commenting that he had powers under the Waste Management Act, Mr Roche said he would give the "fullest possible support to the EPA and local authorities, and I expect them to deal aggressively and unambiguously with prosecutions".

Under existing legislation those convicted of illegal dumping could face fines of up to €15 million and jail sentences of up to 10 years. Mr Roche said there was "nobody too small and no individual or body corporate too big to prosecute".

Mr Roche's comments came after a number of landowners in the Minister's own constituency of Wicklow announced they would be seeking waste permits and licences from the EPA to remediate illegal dumps.

Last week Roadstone announced it was to seek permission from Wicklow County Council and a licence from the EPA to retain some waste at an illegal dump on its lands at Blessington.

It also emerged at the weekend that Roadstone has paid €500,000 to the council towards the costs in investigating the illegal dump which is located at Dillonsdown, close to new housing and reservoir lakes at Blessington.

Blessington locals are planning a protest outside Wicklow council offices this afternoon as councillors discuss the Roadstone's plans for the illegal dump at Dillonsdown. A number of councillors have tabled motions for an emergency debate on the subject.