Persistent dumping prompts crackdown at Tipperary recycling sites
In an attempt to combat illegal dumping at bring centres across Tipperary, the local authority is launching a pilot scheme to identify and bring the culprits to justice.
Tipperary County Council have announced the launch of a pilot CCTV scheme at two bring centres in the county in an attempt to significantly reduce illegal dumping.
The scheme will be trialed at the bring centres in Ryan’s Centra Supermarket Car Park, Newport, and Suirside Car Park, Old Waterford Road, Clonmel.
The council say that the scheme is warranted due to persistent dumping at bring centres across the county.
"The indiscriminate dumping of waste (principally household waste), which is taking place on a continuous basis throughout county Tipperary, is detrimental to the environment and leads to pollution and the creation of a health hazard.
"This indiscriminate dumping at Bring Centres is of increasing concern to Tipperary County Council in its role as a waste enforcement authority,” the council added.
Various measures have already been implemented in an attempt to curb the illegal dumping, such as public awareness initiatives and waste and litter enforcement, as well as signs which have been erected at bring centres throughout the county.
The measures so far have had a “sub-optimal” level of success, the local authority added.
“The pilot project aims to assess the effectiveness of CCTV surveillance in capturing evidence of illegal dumping and littering, which has been a persistent issue, notwithstanding the erection of signage and enforcement efforts,” Tipperary County Council said.
As part of the pilot programme, CCTV cameras would be in place for a period of four weeks, recording 24 hours a day.
If the pilot project is a success, the scheme may then be rolled out to other bring centres across Tipperary.
At a meeting of Tipperary County Council earlier this year, councillors were informed that clothes banks are to be removed from locations across the county, amid concerns of consistent illegal dumping.
The clothes banks will be moved to the five civic amenity sites across Tipperary, located in Cashel, Donohill, Roscrea, Nenagh and Clonmel.
A public consultation on the pilot CCTV scheme is now open, and will remain open until August 22. Anyone interested in putting in a submission can do so by post, or by email.