Low life offenders: Nenagh councillor calls for huge increase in litter fines

Nenagh councillors have called for a dramatic increase in litter fines after items such as washing machines were dumped in the municipal district council area.

“The current €150 fine is not a deterrent,” declared Cllr John Carroll.

He called on it to be raised nationally to €500, describing those who dump rubbish illegally as “low life offenders”.

Cllr Seamus Morris said dumping in the district had got worse over the past six months.

“It is needless rubbish dumping. In one instance a washing machine was dumped on the Dublin Road but the offender left their name and address in it,” he said.

“A fine is the way to go,” he told the January meeting of Nenagh MDC. “I thought we had nearly gotten on top of it.”

He called on the council to write to householders to ensure everyone had a waste collection system in place.

“You’d be surprised at the people who do it. There are ways of getting rid of your rubbish without dumping it on the side of the road,” he said.

Cllr Morris was also concerned about the effect rubbish being dumped in fields was having on animals, saying cows could die from eating rubbish dumped in ditches.

He was supported by Cllr Ger Darcy who described those who dump rubbish illegally as “sneaky people”.

“To go to another man’s gate and dump your rubbish is a scandal. When animals and the wind get into it, it can blow for miles,” he said.

Environment officer Michael Moloney pledged to check if there was anything being done nationally about increasing fines and said the council’s household waste survey will continue.

“The council is pro-active in taking cases,” he said. “And we do go after costs if people are convicted.”