Waterford farmer fined for illegally burning plastic and household waste at farmyard

Waterford City and Council welcomes court conviction following prosecution

A farmer in County Waterford was fined €500 after he admitted illegally burning waste on his farm 18 months ago.

The defendant was successfully prosecuted by Waterford City and County Council for the illegal disposal of farm plastics, household and other wastes by burning on a date in March 2023.

According to the local authority, the farmer pleaded guilty when the case came before Lismore District Court, sitting in Dungarvan, earlier this month.

The famer was before the court for an offence under Section 32 of the Waste Management Act 1996 of 'managing waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution'.

During the hearing, Paul Flynn, Environmental Inspector with Waterford City and County Council, outlined that there were “mechanisms open to farmers to dispose of their farmyard plastic in an environmentally-friendly manner, so they don’t have to burn it.”

Having heard the evidence in the case, Judge Cephas Power, commented that such offences are a "very serious issue in the times we live in with global warming," adding that actions of the defendant "will only add to the problem.”

The farmer was fined €500 and ordered to pay the costs of the local authority, including outstanding fire service charges of €3,950.