Why using CCTV to prevent rubbish dumping is tricky
The cameras were installed at 10 locations in the Metropolitan district in November.
The case for using CCTV to detect and prevent illegal rubbish dumping is a tricky one legally.
Dumping and fly tipping at bring banks, on rural roads and in secluded forestry areas is difficult to prevent, and the use of CCTV is commonly cited as the most logical answer to the problem.
However, it is not as simple as putting up a camera in areas where rubbish is spotted.
Dawn Wallace, Senior Executive Officer with Waterford Council’s Environment Department, explained at the Comeragh District meeting of the Council that using CCTV for litter prevention is complicated legally.
New cameras have been installed across the county in recent times, targeting illegal dumping and littering. Waterford City and County Council issued 86 litter fines in the first six weeks of operation of its new CCTV enforcement system.
The cameras were installed at 10 locations in the Metropolitan district in November.
Due to resources, the plan is to rotate the camera units to other locations across the county.
The areas selected for cameras are dependent on the number of official reports that Waterford Council receives from the public through their Customer Relations Management Complaint system (CRM system).
Dawn Wallace further explained, “Dumping and littering needs to be reported through CRM, it’s a legal requirement.
“In terms of the use of CCTV, we must have evidence to demonstrate that there’s a problem in a specific area.
“We also have to demonstrate that we have done everything in our power to stop the dumping happening in the first place. It’s not as straightforward as just getting reports and then putting in a camera.”
