Coillte responds to 'constant' dumping complaint at Laois woodland
Forestry company says it 'has spent over €2 million in clean-up operations'
The Irish state forestry company Coillte has defended its record of clearing illegally dumped waste at a Laois woodlands.
This week the resident near Coillte woodland in Ballybrittas sent this shocking photo to the Leinster Express / Laois Live of the waste he picked up using his own telehandler machine.
Colm Phelan described how he and another resident go out every fortnight and clear about two tonnes of waste from the laybys of the old Dublin Road between Ballybrittas and the former Montague Hotel, which includes entrances to Coillte bog.
Mr Phelan said he then pays the cost to dump the waste properly at Kyletalesha landfill. He described how he has even forked out between €400 and €500 to buy and erect his own anti-dumping signs.
He accused Laois County Council and Coillte of doing little to help. Laois County Council responded to explain how they tackle the issue, including prosecution of a dumper and clearing waste.
Now Coillte has also given their reply, saying they spend millions to clear waste that people have dumped on their land.
"Coillte takes the issue of dumping extremely seriously and we work closely with the Gardaí and the local authorities to address the issue. To help deter and monitor illegal dumping, Coillte installs signs, barriers and CCTV at known illegal dumping hotspots across its forest estate.
"Over the last 5 years, Coillte has spent over €2 million in clean-up operations and disposing of illegal waste dumped in our forests. Illegal dumping causes serious problems to habitats, species, waters, soils and human health. It can pollute rivers and drinking water sources, damage biodiversity, and is a threat to both the people who live in an area and recreational users. It also poses risks to Coillte staff who have to remove this illegally dumped material.
"Coillte has a number of initiatives ongoing to deter and prevent illegal dumping in Ireland. Since 2006, in the Dublin/Wicklow mountains Coillte has been involved with the PURE project. The PURE Project is the first of its kind in Ireland which incorporates statutory and non-statutory organisations, including; Wicklow County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Coillte, National Parks & Wildlife Service, and the Wicklow Uplands Council. Funded by Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment Pure was established to combat illegal dumping/fly-tipping in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands.
"We encourage the public to contact us if they see illegal dumping taking place, please report it to your Local Authority immediately or contact Coillte via our confidential forest security hotline on 1890 800 455."