Council clamps down on businesses with litter outside

By Maurice Garvey

SOUTH Dublin County Council have issued over 110 notices to businesses to date in 2016, under the litter pollution act.

The notices were sent under section six of the litter act, which requires occupiers of public places to keep their premises and adjoining area free of litter, regardless of how the litter got there.

At the recent Clondalkin area meeting, Fine Gael councillor Ken Egan forwarded a motion, asking the council to consider appointing a litter warden in Clondalkin village on a Tuesday evening to combat the “massive surge of litter being deposited by users of a local takeaway.”

In response, the council said failure to comply with a notice may result in the issuing of a fine.

They said it was not possible to provide a breakdown of the number of notices issued in the Clondalkin electoral area, but a total of 112 notices have been issued in the county to date in 2016.

This area in the vicinity of the takeaway was inspected early on the mornings of June 14-16, and “no evidence was found to indicate a specific litter problem at this premises.”

A council spokesperson said: “It has also been noted that this business has committed to addressing litter problems associated with discarded packaging, from their products and similar commitments from other fast food outlets throughout the county would be most welcome.”

Councillor Breeda Bonner commended the takeaway for its action, and urged them “to follow through on those commitments.”