Rural Waterford used as illegal dumping ground over Christmas 

There were several significant illegal dumping incidents in West Waterford over the Christmas period.

That is according to Dungarvan-Lismore councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy, who said beauty spots, rural roads, graveyards and housing areas are increasingly being used as dumping grounds.

Items dumped included household waste, construction materials, tyres, furniture and electrical goods.

“The scale and frequency of dumping is deeply frustrating for local residents who take pride in their areas.

“This behaviour is not only unsightly. 

"It damages the environment, threatens wildlife, impacts tourism and places an unfair financial burden on the wider community. 

"Rural beauty spots that should be enjoyed by families, walkers and visitors are instead being scarred by fly tipping, undermining the hard work of local Tidy Towns groups and volunteers,” said Cllr Mulcahy.

The councillor is urging individuals to dispose of their waste responsibly.

He is also reminding the public that it is not acceptable to leave bags, boxes and rubbish at bottle banks.

If bottle banks are full, you should take your items to another facility or a civic amenity site.

Civic amenity sites in Dungarvan and Waterford City accept most kinds of waste, with electrical items accepted free of charge and general household waste costing very little to dispose of properly.

“These facilities exist to prevent exactly the type of dumping we are seeing.

“Unfortunately, we will never have enough enforcement officers to be everywhere at once. That is why community cooperation is vital. I strongly encourage anyone who witnesses illegal dumping or who comes across dumped material to report it.

“All reports are treated as strictly confidential, and information from the public is often the key factor in identifying those responsible,” said Cllr Mulcahy.

Cllr Mulcahy commended Paul Flynn and the staff in the Council’s Environment Section for the work they do on a daily basis.

He said their role extends far beyond illegal dumping and includes dealing with noise pollution, air quality issues, waste enforcement, dog fouling, graveyard maintenance and the dangerous build up of rubbish in back gardens.

“Much of this work happens quietly and without recognition, yet it is essential to protecting public health and the environment,” said Cllr Mulcahy.

The councillor said the rollout of CCTV and camera enforcement is now underway and will play an important role in deterring offenders.

“But enforcement alone will not solve this issue. It ultimately comes down to respect for our neighbours, our countryside and our communities.

“Illegal dumping is not a victimless act. It affects every one of us. West Waterford is known for its natural beauty, strong community spirit and tourism appeal. We all have a responsibility to protect that,” said Cllr Mulcahy.