Another Major Clean Up Operation by Fingal County Council
Fingal County Council’s Environment Department undertook a significant waste clearance operation yesterday at St Mary’s, Cappagh Road in Finglas with a total of 145 tonnes of household and bulky waste, including construction and demolition material, removed from the site.
Multi-agency support was provided by An Garda Siochana, Social Protection, Customs, the National Trans Frontier Shipment Office and the Regional Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority (WERLA).
The illegal dismantling of End of Life Vehicles (ELV’s) was also targeted as part of the operation with several cars and vans taken off site and brought to an Authorised Treatment Facility for recovery and disposal. Significant civil works involving the installation of large concrete blocks and the construction of earth berms were undertaken as part of the operation to restrict access and prevent a reoccurrence.
Hundreds of tonnes of household and bulky waste get dumped illegally every year costing local authorities hundreds of thousands of euro. It gets dumped in laneways, fields and isolated areas without a second thought of the damage caused. It pollutes the waterways, contaminates the ground and destroys the countryside. Waste materials are also burned releasing toxic fumes into the air that we breathe. Everyone has a responsibility to dispose of their waste in a safe and sustainable manner to protect the environment for future generations.
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy said: The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy said: "Fingal County Council is committed to protecting our soils and waters from waste pollution. These operations are necessary to ensure the proper dismantling of an unauthorised and environmentally harmful situation. Unauthorised storage and dismantling of end of life vehicles pose 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.”
“Effective action by Fingal County Council's Waste Enforcement Division and other authorities against these sites is important in protecting the environment of Fingal. I commend this action and the other agencies (An Garda Siochana, Customs, the Department of Social Protection and the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority) involved.”
The use of unauthorised waste collectors (“Man in a Van”) and the illegal dumping of waste continues to be a major issue throughout the country. Local authority waste enforcement officers are spending more and more time dealing with dumping incidents and trying to tackle the issue at source. Education and awareness in relation illegal waste collectors and the management of waste in a responsible manner is vital to tackle the issue head on. Residents should ask for ID for anyone offering a waste disposal service and their waste collection permit number which can be checked with the National Waste Collection Permit Office at www.nwcpo.ie. If they are not on the permit list they are not authorised to collect waste. Information in relation to waste can be found at www.mywaste.ie Irelands official guide to managing your waste responsibly and efficiently.
David Storey, Director of Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel 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 continued work as part of a larger Waste Enforcement Division plan to regularise/close all unauthorised sites operating without planning permission and/or a waste facility permit across Fingal.”
Valuable funding and associated resources are used on a weekly basis to clean up blackspot areas where waste is dumped, funding which could be better used to improve local community services and local businesses.
Waste enforcement officers with support from local Gardai continue to use CCTV in conjunction with regular patrols to ensure this type of illegal activity stops and that those responsible are brought to justice. Fines of up to €5,000 can be given in the District Court If someone is found guilty of collecting waste illegally, dumping waste or providing waste to an illegal waste collector.
To report unauthorised waste collectors or dumping contact %65%[email protected] " rel="nofollow"> [email protected] or Tel: 01 8906799.
Information on recycling centres: https://www.fingal.ie/council/service/civic-amenity-sites-provision-recycling-centres