Illegal dumping may hamper Tidy Towns efforts in the county

Thurles-Templemore councillors are concerned about illegal dumping in the county, with Tidy Towns competitions just around the corner.

Cllr Sean Ryan said: “It’s not nice, particularly this time of year when Tidy Towns competitions are coming up," said Cllr Ryan.

He asked where the council were with using technology to combat the problem.

“I don't want to see this kind of carry on. I think we need to get tougher on it,” said Cllr Ryan. Cllr Seamus Hanafin supported his colleague saying they needed a “proactive approach.”

He said dumped waste is a problem not only where it is left but can affect the whole area.

“It’s not a bag of rubbish; it’s 100 metres of rubbish,” said Cllr Hanafin.

And, household waste is not the only concern. Cllr Noel Coonan said those passing through areas in cars often throw rubbish out their windows and outside fast food establishments.

He called on the council to work in partnership with fast food businesses.

He also praised the work of communities in cleaning up the areas.

However, he asked that the gardai ‘take a role’ in tackling illegal dumping. He said they can identify drivers from licence plates, and the ordinary person cannot.

An official from Tipperary County Council told elected members that they were in the process of applying for funding for collection machinery.

They said there is a machine which ‘is basically a big vacuum’ that could make the clean up more efficient. But they said it was quite costly.

Where as, he said drones were less helpful except in areas of frequent dumping.

But the council do have drone technology available.

Additionally, the council are working on further public awareness campaigns. This month, Tipperary County Council created a social media campaign called, Bin it... Don't Fling It, which councillors welcomed.

The campaign consists of social media graphics with pictures of dumping and the fines that can be imposed if someone is prosecuted. Cllr Peggy Ryan asked about the response to the campaign.

However, the council official said it was too early to analysis the impact.

The official also said: “Community groups deserve huge recognition, and we support them where we can.”