160 vehicles removed as part of a Major End of Life Vehicle Clearance Operation at Christopher’s Lane

The multi-agency operation involved 70 personnel comprising members of An Garda Siochana, Social Protection, Waste Enforcement, the National Trans frontier Shipment Office and the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority (WERLA).

Using contractors, recovery operators and vehicles assessors 160 vehicles were removed off site and brought to an authorised treatment facility (ATF) for recycling and disposal. As part of the operation 170 tonnes of illegally dumped waste was also removed and significant civil works undertaken to prevent further illegal activity. A combination of CCTV monitoring, waste enforcement inspections and Garda surveillance will be utilised to prevent further illegal ELV activity on St Christopher’s Lane.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy said: "This was a necessary operation to ensure the proper dismantling of an unauthorised and environmentally harmful situation. Unauthorised storage and dismantling of end of life vehicles (ELVs - disused cars and goods vehicles) poses a significant risk to the environment. ELVs contain many hazardous materials such as lead acid batteries, lubricating oil, coolant, brake fluid, and catalytic convertors, all of which must be disposed of safely in order to prevent pollution.”

“I'm delighted to see such effective action by Fingal County Council's Waste Enforcement Division in their operation against these sites. I commend them and the other agencies (An Garda Siochana, Customs, the Department of Social Protection and the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority) involved.”

“Fingal County Council is committed to protecting our soils and waters from waste pollution. Citizens can play their part by reporting illegal waste operations to Fingal County Council - Environment Section Tel: 01 8905000."

Owners of any of the vehicles found dumped on St Christopher’s Lane who are identified will be issued with a fine. It is the registered owner’s legal responsibility to bring an end of life vehicle to an authorised treatment facility (ATF) who will dispose of the vehicle and issue a certificate of destruction. A cert of destruction ensures that no further transactions such as change of ownership can be processed against the vehicle. Failure to do this can result in a €100 fine.

ATF’s are permitted facilities authorised to treat and recover end of life vehicles (normally known as scrap cars and small vans). They have the necessary infrastructure for storing, treating and recovering ELV’s. Depositing a vehicle at an ATF ensures that the vehicle will be dismantled in an environmentally friendly manner, with all hazardous material removed, before the vehicle is crushed.

Unauthorised End of Life Vehicle (ELV) sites have been highlighted as a National Waste Enforcement Priority for 2020 for local authorities. Unauthorised storage and dismantling of ELV’s poses a significant risk to the environment. ELV’s contain a range of waste oils and other fluids which can have a significant effect on the environment if not depolluted and disposed of properly. ELV’s contain many hazardous materials such as lead acid batteries, fluids including lubricating oil, coolant, brake fluid, and catalytic convertors, all of which must be disposed of safely in order to prevent pollution.

Ethna Felten, Director of Environment and Climate Action at Fingal County Council, said: “Unauthorised End of Life Vehicle (ELV) sites have been highlighted as a National Waste Enforcement Priority for local authorities across the country. Unauthorised storage and dismantling of ELV’s poses a significant risk to the environment. This is part of the larger Waste Enforcement Division plan to regularise/close all unauthorised sites operating without planning permission and/or a waste facility permit during the coming months.”

Fingal County Council’s Waste Enforcement Division has identified several unauthorised ELV sites through the use of CCTV monitoring, drone surveys and local knowledge. These sites will continue to be inspected over the coming months using a multi-agency approach and shut down if found to be operating illegally without the necessary authorisations.