Local authorities are attempting to tackle litter pollution head on in different ways. Dublin Corporation has a name-and-shame policy which publishes the names of offenders in national newspapers. Navan Urban District Council has come up with a unique initiative - two wardens on the beat photographing litter louts as they offend.
A radical measure had to be taken to address the town's litter problem, according to UDC chairman Mr Christy Gorman (Independent). It was costing the council £155,000 a year just to sweep the town's streets. "You could do an awful lot of other things around the town for that money," he said.
"There is nothing nice about having to try to enforce litter laws but the measures in place were not proving very effective. I think you have to take some radical steps to try and get the message home."
It seems the message reached home when a 12-year-old boy was photographed dropping a chip bag and subsequently issued with a £50 on-the-spot fine.
UDC member Mr Joe Reilly (Sinn Fein) said he was worried about children being phototgraphed and sought clarification on the policy.
Mr Peter Brady, spokesman for the council, said cameras were introduced on a pilot basis and weren't "necessarily" used in all cases. It was too early to say if the initiative was paying off.
"The council is taking steps to improve anti-litter enforcement in its area. This is part of the overall policy of improving the local environment for the use and enjoyment of the public in general. One of the major problems in achieving the council's goal is the level of litter pollution which exists in our towns and villages.
"Because of the difficulties being experienced in obtaining correct names and addresses of litter offenders the council decided to introduce cameras on a trial basis as an additional aid in helping to identify litter offenders," he said.
It was not council policy to prosecute those under the age of 15, he said. It is understood the boy's on-the-spot fine was withdrawn.
Mr Gorman said he had mixed views on the taking of photographs of young litter louts but a large amount of litter was thrown on the streets by them and they were "not inclined" to give their names when caught by litter wardens. "Some method has to be found to deter them," he said.
"It may appear to be extreme but under the circumstances of the increasing amount of litter on the streets, something had to be done. What else can you do? There are some people who treat the entire country as a bin and leave their rubbish for others to clean up after them."
The president of Navan Chamber of Commerce, Mr Frank Dempsey, brother of Environment Minister Mr Noel Dempsey, said the Chamber supported any efforts by the UDC to tackle litter in the town.
Meanwhile, Mr Reilly said he was not aware that the UDC's litter wardens had cameras until the case of the 12-year-old was brought to his attention. It appeared to have been the initiative of local authority officials rather than elected members of the UDC, he said.
He agreed "on broad terms" with the "fairly aggressive policy" but was unhappy about the photographing of minors without parental consent. He sees no problem with wardens continuing to photograph adults littering, to back up prosecutions in court under the Litter Act.
The pilot scheme will be up for discussion at next month's UDC meeting.