Clare Councillors have spoken out against high levels of dumping here, saying the problem was worsened since the onset of COVID-19.
Calls have been made for strong action to be taken to tackle the issue including naming and shaming those responsible.
East Clare Fine Gael Councillor Joe Cooney is one of a number of local representatives who raised concern about levels of dumping in the county during Monday’s local authority meeting.
The Council says no part of Clare has been unaffected by dumping, but local representatives in East and South-East Clare say their areas have been struck particularly badly.
This is being attributed to the area’s proximity with Limerick City, and the possibility that people there are hiring unlicensed waste collectors who in turn are dumping rubbish in Clare.
Councillor Cooney says strong action needs to be taken to curb this spate of illegal dumping.
One of the main problems lies with just who is responsible for the waste.
If rubbish is dumped on private property, the landowner can be held liable, even if they didn’t put it there.
But in relation to unlicensed operators, calls are being made for a strong clampdown by authorities, including CCTV controls, more Garda checkpoints, and even naming and shaming those responsible.
Fianna Fáil councillor Alan O’Callaghan says those who hire the waste collectors doing the dumping are the ones who could be in trouble.
Senior Engineer with Clare County Council, Cyril Feeney, says that he finds it hard to believe anybody could hire an unlicensed waste colletor without realising.
Brian McLoughlin, Clare FM, first for local news.
