Cost of tackling illegal dumping across Limerick is revealed

LIMERICK City and County Council has spent more than €3m tackling illegal dumping over the last five years, as 3,695 people lodged complaints.

It’s sparked a call from a local councillor to “name and shame” offenders who are charged before the courts.

Aontu northside councillor Sarah Beasley sought information from local authority bosses of the costs incurred in trying to stop what she described as “a blight” on the city.

READ MORE: ‘Amazing couple’: Two Limerick All-Ireland winners tie the knot in style

“I find some areas of Limerick filthy. Some of the Regeneration areas are big offenders, but Regeneration does not have the funding to collect litter anymore,” she said.

“People are still dumping mattresses, tricyles, nappies. You name it. It’s not fair on communities and the people who are paying for bins or going to Mungret to recycle things legally,” said Cllr Beasley.

Following a detailed question, the northside councillor was told between 2021 and 2025, €3.2m had been spent.

This includes payroll of council’s littering team, but excludes money spent by roads, cleaning, and Regeneration teams on removing illegally dumped rubbish.

So, the figure is potentially a lot higher. The highest single year of spend was last year - €709,847.

Cllr Beasley said the money spent could “build a row of houses in a housing crisis.”

“It’s massive money going out. We have to talk to the local authority and see how we can tackle this. We need to name and shame and people. Those who are in court should be highlighted,” she said.

Data presented by council’s senior environmental engineer Aidan Finn revealed that 765 domestic fines and prosecutions had been given out since 2021.

That is among householders.

Regarding businesses, some 63 commercial fines and prosecutions had taken place since 2021.

The value of fines issued stood at €85,770, with the collection rate running between 23% in 2024 and 41% in 2022.

There were a total 3,695 dumping complaints, Mr Finn disclosed.

But the ratio of complaints to fines and prosecutions was at three-to-one last year.

For three of the previous four years, the rate stood at five-to-one.

Mr Finn outlined how five environmental control officers inspectors were in place at council, supported by an administrative team of five people.

He added hotspots for dumping across the city include St Mary’s Park, Ballinacurra Weston, Galvone, Moyross, Johnsgate, Donnellan’s Field near Thomondgate, alongside Garryowen, Toppins Field near Southill, Lenihan Avenue plus Hyde Road.

“CCTV surveillance is being used at litter blackspots, bring banks and regeneration areas to identify alleged illegal dumping offenders,” Mr Finn explained.

On top of this, environmental officers carry out routing weekly patrols in identified blackspot areas, he said, adding that they enforce legislation under the Litter Pollution Acts and Waste Management Acts, issue fines and initiate legal action where needed.