How to Report littering
If you would like to report littering / illegal dumping please contact the Environmental services’ confidential Freephone 1800 2000 14 or email [email protected] with exact details of location of litter or illegal dumping
When making a complaint try and have as much information available as possible.
1. Name of area
2. Directions
3. Name of person responsible (alleged)
Litter and the Law
The Litter Pollution Act, 1997, as amended by the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 and the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, includes penalties to help combat the problems of litter pollution. The definition of 'litter' under this legislation is quite wide and extends from casual pieces of paper or cigarette ends to anything large or small that is, or is likely to become, unsightly.
FINES
Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence which can be subject to an on-the-spot fine of €150 or a maximum fine of €3000 in court. The definition of litter is quite wide and extends from casual pieces of paper or cigarette ends to anything large or small which is, or is likely to become unsightly. A person convicted of a litter offence may also be required by the court to pay the local authority's costs and expenses in investigating the offence and bringing the prosecution.
Public Places
If you are the owner or the person responsible for a place to which the public has access you are obliged to keep the place litter free, regardless of how the litter got there. This applies to any public place which may include the precincts of a shopping centre, a school campus, a public park, a bus or train station.
Private Property
The owner or occupier of property which can be seen from a public place is obliged to keep it free of litter. Basically, any outdoor area on your property that is visible from a public place must be kept free of litter.
Litter Black Spots
Where litter has accumulated on property for whatever reason and the litter is visible from a public place, the local authority can issue a notice to the owner or occupier requiring the prompt removal of the litter. Such a notice can also set down precautionary measures to be put in place to prevent a reoccurrence. If a property owner or occupier fails or refuses to do everything that has been requested, the local authority has the power to do whatever is necessary itself and require the owner or occupier to pay all of the costs involved.
Illegal Dumping
The litter laws have increased the powers of local authorities to combat the problem of illegal dumping of refuse and rubbish. Where a local authority finds material that is illegally dumped and establishes the identity of the owner of the material, that person will have a case to answer without necessarily having to be caught in the act.
Extra powers are also available to local authorities to require a householder or business operator to indicate how and where they are disposing of their waste. This is particularly relevant if the householder or business owner is not availing of a refuse collection service or bringing their waste to an authorised disposal facility.
If you see someone dumping illegally, report the matter to your local authority who will investigate and take any necessary enforcement action.
Events
Promoters or organisers of major events are required to ensure that they have litter control measures in place at the venue and in the surrounding vicinity before, during and after the event.
Mobile Food Outlets
Operators of mobile food outlets selling fast food or beverages, or other outlets such as those selling farm produce are obliged to provide suitable litter bins in the vicinity of their outlets. Also, they must clean-up any litter arising from the operation of their outlets within a radius of 100 metres from their outlet.
Dog Fouling
Dog owners must remove their pets' waste from public places and dispose of it in a proper manner. This obligation applies to public roads and footpaths, areas around shopping centres, school/sports grounds, beaches and the immediate area surrounding another person's house.
Posters and Signs
The law forbids the putting up of posters or signs on poles or on other structures in public places unless you have the written permission of the owner of the pole or other structure in advance.
Advertising Flyers
The placing of advertising leaflets on car windscreens is prohibited> If you are proposing to distribute advertising leaflets in the street, you should first check with the local authority to see if they have introduced any local litter restrictions, which they are entitled to do.
Presenting your Refuse for Collection
Taking a few small precautions in the way you present your refuse for collection will help enormously in preventing the creation of litter. You should put out refuse for collection on the morning of the collection and not on the day or night before. Bins should not be overflowing as there is a possibility that litter will blow across streets or roads.
It is an offence to dispose of your household refuse in street litter bins.
Who Enforces the Litter Laws?
Local authorities are responsible for implementing the litter laws in their own areas. Gardai also have the power to issue on the spot fines for litter offences.
Litter Management Plans
Each local authority is obliged to prepare a litter management plan for its own area. This plan sets out their objectives to prevent and control litter as well as measures to encourage public awareness. The plan must also set out the measures and arrangements by which they intend to achieve their objectives. In preparing a litter management plan the local authority is obliged to consult with local community and voluntary interests before a plan is adopted by the Council members.
Litter Pollution Act
(As amended by the Protection of the Environment Act, 2003)
The Litter Pollution Act 1997 has given new powers and duties to Local Authorities to tackle the problem of litter and fly tipping. The Act empowers Litter Wardens and Gardai to issue on the spot fines for various offences including dog related offences. It places the onus on the person whose name and address are found in fly tipped rubbish to prove they are not responsible for the litter.
When making a complaint try and have as much information available as possible.
1. Name of area
2. Directions
3. Name of person responsible (alleged)
Litter and the Law
The Litter Pollution Act, 1997, as amended by the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 and the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, includes penalties to help combat the problems of litter pollution. The definition of 'litter' under this legislation is quite wide and extends from casual pieces of paper or cigarette ends to anything large or small that is, or is likely to become, unsightly.
FINES
Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence which can be subject to an on-the-spot fine of €150 or a maximum fine of €3000 in court. The definition of litter is quite wide and extends from casual pieces of paper or cigarette ends to anything large or small which is, or is likely to become unsightly. A person convicted of a litter offence may also be required by the court to pay the local authority's costs and expenses in investigating the offence and bringing the prosecution.
Public Places
If you are the owner or the person responsible for a place to which the public has access you are obliged to keep the place litter free, regardless of how the litter got there. This applies to any public place which may include the precincts of a shopping centre, a school campus, a public park, a bus or train station.
Private Property
The owner or occupier of property which can be seen from a public place is obliged to keep it free of litter. Basically, any outdoor area on your property that is visible from a public place must be kept free of litter.
Litter Black Spots
Where litter has accumulated on property for whatever reason and the litter is visible from a public place, the local authority can issue a notice to the owner or occupier requiring the prompt removal of the litter. Such a notice can also set down precautionary measures to be put in place to prevent a reoccurrence. If a property owner or occupier fails or refuses to do everything that has been requested, the local authority has the power to do whatever is necessary itself and require the owner or occupier to pay all of the costs involved.
Illegal Dumping
The litter laws have increased the powers of local authorities to combat the problem of illegal dumping of refuse and rubbish. Where a local authority finds material that is illegally dumped and establishes the identity of the owner of the material, that person will have a case to answer without necessarily having to be caught in the act.
Extra powers are also available to local authorities to require a householder or business operator to indicate how and where they are disposing of their waste. This is particularly relevant if the householder or business owner is not availing of a refuse collection service or bringing their waste to an authorised disposal facility.
If you see someone dumping illegally, report the matter to your local authority who will investigate and take any necessary enforcement action.
Events
Promoters or organisers of major events are required to ensure that they have litter control measures in place at the venue and in the surrounding vicinity before, during and after the event.
Mobile Food Outlets
Operators of mobile food outlets selling fast food or beverages, or other outlets such as those selling farm produce are obliged to provide suitable litter bins in the vicinity of their outlets. Also, they must clean-up any litter arising from the operation of their outlets within a radius of 100 metres from their outlet.
Dog Fouling
Dog owners must remove their pets' waste from public places and dispose of it in a proper manner. This obligation applies to public roads and footpaths, areas around shopping centres, school/sports grounds, beaches and the immediate area surrounding another person's house.
Posters and Signs
The law forbids the putting up of posters or signs on poles or on other structures in public places unless you have the written permission of the owner of the pole or other structure in advance.
Advertising Flyers
The placing of advertising leaflets on car windscreens is prohibited> If you are proposing to distribute advertising leaflets in the street, you should first check with the local authority to see if they have introduced any local litter restrictions, which they are entitled to do.
Presenting your Refuse for Collection
Taking a few small precautions in the way you present your refuse for collection will help enormously in preventing the creation of litter. You should put out refuse for collection on the morning of the collection and not on the day or night before. Bins should not be overflowing as there is a possibility that litter will blow across streets or roads.
It is an offence to dispose of your household refuse in street litter bins.
Who Enforces the Litter Laws?
Local authorities are responsible for implementing the litter laws in their own areas. Gardai also have the power to issue on the spot fines for litter offences.
Litter Management Plans
Each local authority is obliged to prepare a litter management plan for its own area. This plan sets out their objectives to prevent and control litter as well as measures to encourage public awareness. The plan must also set out the measures and arrangements by which they intend to achieve their objectives. In preparing a litter management plan the local authority is obliged to consult with local community and voluntary interests before a plan is adopted by the Council members.
Litter Pollution Act
(As amended by the Protection of the Environment Act, 2003)
The Litter Pollution Act 1997 has given new powers and duties to Local Authorities to tackle the problem of litter and fly tipping. The Act empowers Litter Wardens and Gardai to issue on the spot fines for various offences including dog related offences. It places the onus on the person whose name and address are found in fly tipped rubbish to prove they are not responsible for the litter.