19/12/2003

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

South Dublin County Council is at present involved in the National Litter Pollution Monitoring Surveys, as compiled by the Department of Heritage, Environment and Local Government. This involves the council's staff carrying out litter surveys around the county and identifying litter "hotspots" i.e. places which have ongoing high levels of littering and which accordingly require more attention than places which are not so heavily littered on an ongoing basis.

Through our surveys we have found that 75% of the litter which can be found around the county, and therefore Tallaght, is caused by passing pedestrians and motorists (64% from pedestrians and 11% from motorists). Accordingly the council has concentrated on dealing with this ongoing littering through the enforcement of the litter laws and concentration of resources in areas identified as "Litter Hotspots". Up to end of November 2003 the council has issued 1622 on the spot litter fines, with 554 cases being forwarded for legal proceedings. Therefore, it can be seen that the council does not take lightly the issue of litter and illegal dumping.

The council is expanding its bringbanks (of which there are 40 around the county now) and we are also promoting the Greenschools Initiative which enforces the anti-litter message to the schoolchildren of the county.

Released on behalf of Benny Hickey, Head of Corporate Services#

Email: benny.hickey@sdublincoco.ie