Sir, – Our recent “spring clean” of Portarlington gives an insight into the issues faced in trying to clean up Ireland. More than 250 volunteers showed up on the day, which allowed us to clean not alone the town but approach roads for miles around.
In general the estates of the town are clean and tidy – indeed most were effectively litter-free before we did our clean-up. Of the 500 sacks of rubbish collected more than 90 per cent compromised illegally dumped goods – mostly sacks of rubbish, but also builders’ waste, tyres, furniture and carpet. So while we appear to be winning the “battle on litter”, we are losing the “war on illegal dumping”.
So what should be done? I think the key to finding an effective solution is to look at the economics of why people dump illegally? Surely it is because they find it cost effective, or indeed profitable (if they do so on a commercial level), while the risks of being caught and typical fines are low. Some possible solutions to change this would be to: 1. Cross-reference the national household register against those who subscribe to a waste collection service. 2. Ensure landlords provide a waste collection service as part of the any rental agreement. 3. Ensure access to recycling centres is free. 4. Compile a list of the “top five” most-dumped items and use this as a basis to implement WEEE-style charges to ensure there are funds to dispose of end-of-life products. 5. Ensure all dumping cases are heard in batches to prevent litter wardens being tied up in court all day. What we need is a clear national strategy on how the scourge of illegal dumping can be resolved once and for all. – Yours, etc,
DAVID MAHER ,
Portarlington Tidy Towns,
Bracklone, Portarlington,
Co Laois.