Household waste being dumped at local stream
By Aideen O'Flaherty
ISSUES with waste management and illegal dumping were raised at Monday’s monthly meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee, with one councillor stating that illegal dumping on the banks of the Whitestown Stream has been “over the top” in recent months.
Solidarity councillor Sandra Fay stated, in a question she asked at the committee meeting, that residents near the portion of the stream that runs through Bawnlea, Dromcarra and Cloonmore have been contacting her about increasing levels of household waste being dumped at the stream.
Waste dumped in the Whitestown stream in November
Cllr Fay told The Echo: “It has really escalated in the last year, it’s an issue that’s constantly brought up [by residents].
“There’s no trees or anything there – it’s completely neglected. People in the community are saying themselves that it’s neglected.
“I’m pushing for flower beds to be planted there to make it something that the community can be proud of.”
Cllr Fay added that former councillor Brian Leech has also been trying to get flowers planted at the site, which has become a magnet for illegal dumping, and that she believes that issues with illegal dumping are happening as a result of the “spiralling cost of waste disposal”.
She is calling for household waste management to be under the council’s remit again, and to include the charge for bin collection in general taxation.
South Dublin County Council stated: “The Council’s Environmental Licensing and Enforcement Section intends to commence a project in the area mentioned here to establish which households have a regular household waste collection in place and which ones do not.
“Those premises which do not have a waste collection will be contacted and asked to provide information regarding how they dispose of their household waste, and the matter can be pursued further with the occupants if this is found to be necessary.
“The council’s Drainage Section carry out regular clean-ups of the stream itself and on a recent occasion removed a total of six truckloads of dumped waste from the area.”
Separately, Independent councillor Mick Duff submitted a question centring on householders who “store very large amounts of household rubbish in the driveway or front garden of their home”.
Cllr Duff told The Echo: “The simple fact is that rubbish is being left in driveways and it’s very evident, and it makes the houses look abandoned.
“It’s irresponsible for any householder to do it. People need to be aware of their social responsibility and environmental responsibility [to dispose of their waste correctly].”
In response, the council said: “Under the terms of the Council’s Tenancy Agreement, all tenants are required to dispose of household rubbish and other items in accordance with Household & Commercial Waste Bye-laws 2018.
“Estate Management Officers will visit any tenant who is found to be in breach of their Tenancy Agreement and remind them of their obligations under the legislation.
“The tenant will be given a timeframe to have the rubbish removed lawfully and, in some instances, they may also be issued with a written warning.
Estate Management Officers work alongside the Environmental Health Officer in such cases who may also take relevant action.
“Where tenants have special circumstances, they should contact the council and they may be referred to our Housing Welfare Section who will work with the tenant towards obtaining a satisfactory resolution to the situation.”
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