New plan unveiled to target Louth’s waste collection evaders

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Louth County Council will be liasing with waste operators in order to create a “reverse register” of those who do not currently engage with bin companies, it emerged at the local authority’s June meeting.

The measures will form part of a new Household Presentation of Waste Project, which the council’s waste enforcement team have launched.

Cllr Robert Nash highlighted the project at the meeting, saying it was a welcome step.

He said he hadn’t realised that the council do have a by-law in place requiring householders to provide evidence they are engaging with waste collection companies.

The project, details of which were featured in the Chief Executive’s monthly management report, will consist of two main elements; “Developing a register of all households not availing of a kerbside waste collection, and targeted engagement with households identified as not availing of a kerbside waste collection.”

Under the Louth County Council (Segregation, Storage, and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Bye-laws 2019 householders must either register with of the local waste collectors for the provision of bins to allow for kerbside collection of household waste or bring segregated household waste to a transfer station/Civic Amenity Site as required. All receipts as proof of this are required to be submitted.

Householders who cannot provide evidence of one of these options will be subject to a €75 Fixed Payment Notice.

Speaking at the monthly meeting, Director of Service, David Hanratty stressed that the onus was on householders to show evidence of what was happening to their domestic waste.

He said they would be looking at issues around waste, including bins left permanently on the street.

Cllr Ciaran Fisher also welcomed the steps being taken around household waste collections, asking if Fixed Penalty Notices can be applied more than once.

He said it was hoped this might identify some of those who could be contributing to illegal dumping.

He also highlighted ongoing issues with domestic waste at Williamson’s Place.

Cllr Maeve Yore also welcomed works on a register of those not availing of kerb collection or proof of disposal.

Cllr Robert Nash asked if the council were planning to write out to all households in the county, or if they were going to concentrate on “problem areas.”

Director of Service, David Hanratty, told the meeting that the council have powers to write to waste collectors to ask them which householders are engaged for kerbside collections. From this information they can develop a “reverse register” which would assist in targetting problem areas.