Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2105. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 343 of 1 May 2018, the status of the pilot illegal dumping project rolled out by Sligo County Council; if the project has been successful; if it will be rolled out by other local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34757/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding has been provided under the 2018 Anti-Dumping Initiative to support a pilot project undertaken by Sligo County Council aimed at tackling and addressing the source of illegal dumping. The aim of this project is to create and maintain a register of how households are managing their waste based on information provided by waste collectors. It is anticipated that this approach will facilitate the process of trying to deal with illegal dumping, the burning of waste and unauthorised waste management. This will form a model of best practice for other Local Authorities to adopt, which in turn will work towards curbing illegal dumping activity nationally.
The project was launched on 20 March 2018 and baseline data has been established from information provided by waste collectors. A door to door education campaign for households in the pilot area has been completed and a social media campaign has been launched. Waste Enforcement Officers are due to commence a programme of inspections by the end of this month. A Steering Committee made up of representatives from my Department, the Connacht/Ulster Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authority, the Regional Planning Offices and Sligo County Council has also been established to support the pilot.
It is my intention that this project would be rolled out nationally in due course and would be supported by necessary bye-laws requiring householders to retain their receipts as proof of how they are disposing of their waste. It should be noted that certain local authorities have already introduced bye-laws which require householders to sign up to a household waste collection service and that the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices have prepared a template to help standardise bye-laws on the presentation of waste. The template bye-laws place the onus of proof on the householder to prove that they are managing their waste correctly by signing up to a waste collection service or providing receipts for the deposit of waste in authorised facilities.
