Adopt a Patch

Litter and Dog Fouling Campaign Resources

We have produced a media pack containing images, video and an animated GIF which can be downloaded here.

Is littering a problem in your area?

Why not sign up for Fingal County Council’s “Adopt a Patch” scheme? 

Here’s how it works:

  1. You choose a public area to adopt and clean-up by collecting litter, and if you wish you can maintain flower beds 
  2. Then fill out the Adopt a Patch Registration form here: - Adopt a Patch Registration Form
  3. Submit it to Fingal County Council - email it to [email protected] or post it to Fingal County Council, Environment Department,  County Hall, Swords, Co. Dublin

  4. The Council will provide support in the form of hi-vis vests, litter pickers and bags and in some instances outdoor paint. You can collect this litter kit if you need it from one of the 10 Hub Community Centres listed below who maintain a stock of these resources. Please note this stock is subject to availability. With Covid in mind, we do not provide gloves, people can wear single-use gloves (for example latex) and dispose of them with the rubbish after the clean-up. 

  5. The Council will collect the bags of litter after your clean-up, unfortunately, we can’t collect green garden/ landscape waste. If you collect up to ten bags you can place them beside an existing Fingal County Council litter bin. Please ensure to leave all footpaths clear and accessible. If there are a lot of bags after a big clean up (more than ten), you can inform the Council using the email addresses below. 

  6. Please note Fingal County Council will not enter an estate not taken in charge to collect bags of litter.

This scheme works very successfully in Fingal with individuals, families and groups adopting stretches of roadway, lanes, parts of beaches, bottle banks and litter blackspots throughout Fingal. This is a very effective community participative approach with local action.

All litter collected is to be left for collection at existing Fingal County Council litter bins or please make arrangements with the Fingal Operations area to pick up the bags. Please leave bags in areas that are easily accessible and visible to Council staff and don’t leave bags in wide open green areas.

If there is a large clean-up organised, please ensure to contact Operations well in advance to let them know.

Bags can only be collected from public roads and estates taken in charge – i.e. not private housing estates. 

The email addresses are as follows:

Howth-Malahide – [email protected]

Balbriggan-Swords area: [email protected]

Castleknock-Mulhuddart area: [email protected]  

Your local Tidy Towns groups have litter equipment available or you may wish to register for the adopt a patch online or at one of the community centres listed below.

For the adopt a patch there is litter picking kit available at these locations listed below:

  1. Mulhuddart Community Centre, Church Rd, Buzzardstown, Dublin 15, D15 R2VF, Phone: (01) 821 5120
  2. Mountview Youth and Community Centre, Lohunda Downs, Coolmine, Dublin 15, (01) 821 8665
  3. Ongar Community Centre  15 Ongar Distributor Road, Ongar Village, Dublin 15, D15 VR72  email [email protected]   Phone: (01) 826 0366
  4. Donabate Portrane Community & Leisure Centre, 3 Portrane Rd, Ballalease North, Donabate, Co. Dublin, K36 FY26 Phone: (01) 843 4546
  5. Baldoyle Community Hall, Main St, Baldoyle, Dublin 13, Phone: (01) 8395338
  6. Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Ln, Balbriggan, (01) 841 5070
  7. Our Balbriggan Main Office, Georges Square, Balbriggan, email: [email protected]
  8. Applewood Community Centre, Castleview Lawn / Bunbury Gate Road, Swords, Co. Dublin, Phone: 353 (01) 807 9582, Email:  [email protected]  
  9. Holywell Community Centre, Holywell Ave, Holywell, Swords, Co. Dublin, (01) 897 1010
  10. Rivervalley Community Centre, River Valley Rd, River Valley, Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 T6T7, (01) 840 9018

The main Fingal County Council reception number is 01 890 5000 Monday-Friday

 

Free Recycled Paint:

Recycled paint is available from the Hub Community centres listed above, for use by Community Groups in Community spaces. Your group can avail of this paint - contact a hub community centre and see if they have some in stock. Usually the colours and magnolia and grey, but there are other colours from time to time. Please specify if you need interior or exterior paint. The paint originates at the Fingal Recycling Centres and has been recycled by the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun. This is a waste prevention and circular economy initiative in partnership with the Rediscovery Centre. 

For info please email [email protected] with info on your community group plus:

  1. What are you going to paint
  2. How much of wall area is it
  3. What colours would you like

 

Best Practice

Please consult with your neighbours and local residents or landowners (if relevant) before adding any flower boxes or rockeries. 

In your ‘Adopt a Patch’ please retain any existing habitats such as ivy and wild flowers for use by pollinating insects.

Important actions include the following: -

  1. Less mowing
  2. Less Spraying
  3. Plant more pollen-rich flowers

 Pollen-rich flowers recommended by the National Biodiversity Data Centre are shown on their website in the resources section www.pollinators.ie

Dog Fouling Resources

See our Green Dog Walker Initiative page for resources to post on social media promoting proper dog hygiene in public places.

Anti-Dog Fouling Bag it Bin it Campaign

The Bag It Bin it Anti Dog litter campaign is ongoing. The Hub Community Centres stock free doggie dispensers for the public – subject to availability. The aim is to equip Local Authorities, Community Groups, Schools and Organisations across the region to address the problem of dog mess! The more people and groups that get behind the campaign the more effective it will be. Higher participation will lead to a greater impact in tackling this problem. The campaign is to encourage dog owners to address dog fouling in a promotional campaign. Various local community and Tidy Towns groups are supporting the campaign with the message – Bag it, Bin it. #BagItBinIt
 
We love dogs, but while the vast majority of dog owners are responsible and clean up after their pets, there are instances of dog fouling on streets and in green spaces on an ongoing basis around Fingal. Dog poo is dangerous for children, it’s awful when children's pushchairs and wheelchair users get soiled.

Biodiversity Actions Resources

Fingal County Council have Biodiversity Actions information leaflets and booklets available for the public:

One-page leaflet on pollen-rich flowers to plant: http://pollinators.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AIPP-Garden-Plants_A5-Flyer-PRINT.pdf

Communities booklet: http://pollinators.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Local-Communities_actions-to-help-pollinators-2018-WEB.pdf

Faith Communities booklet: http://pollinators.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Faith-Communities_actions-to-help-pollinators-2018-WEB.pdf

Gardens booklet: http://pollinators.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Gardens_actions-to-help-pollinators-2018-WEB.pdf

rediscovery centre logo