The Council has called for public assistance to apprehend what seems to be a professional rubbish dumping operation that has targeted a rural area of West Waterford.
The calls comes after a large amount of rubbish was found on a site near the village of Ballylaneen, between Kilmacthomas and Bunmahon.
Niall Kane, Senior Executive Engineer with Waterford City and County Council Environment Section said: “This bears all the hallmarks of an unauthorised ‘man in a van’ operator”.
“These illegal operators often advertise on social media and may seem to offer good value, but your waste could end up dumped like this. Before engaging someone to remove your waste you should always check to ensure they have a waste collection permit,” he said.
Speaking to The Munster Express, Sinn Féin Councillor Catherine Burke said: “It is deeply disappointing to see an illegal rubbish dump discovered in Ballylaneen”.
“This kind of behaviour shows a complete lack of respect for the local environment and the wider community. Illegal dumping not only blights our countryside but also poses risks to wildlife, public health and local resources that must be used to clean it up.
“Ballylaneen deserves better and it’s frustrating that the actions of a few can negatively impact everyone. Those responsible should be held accountable, and it’s a reminder of the importance of disposing of waste properly and taking pride in our area.”
Speaking at the November meeting of Comeragh Municipal District Council, Cllr. Burke was one of the councillors who pushed back against the Council executive’s claim that the City should be prioritised to prevent dumping.
Comeragh Councillors were frustrated that their longstanding calls for CCTV in the Comeragh region to prevent dumping were going unheeded, as the CCTV was going into the City instead.
Dawn Wallace, Senior Executive Officer for the Environment Department, said: “In relation to CCTV … the first batch have gone in in the city as that was where the priority was in terms of complaints”.
“We didn’t have a bulky waste collection day [for Comeragh]. We didn’t have the funding for it. If people can put a mattress in their car and drive it up and dump it in the Comeragh [Mountains] they can drive it to the civic amenity centre and get rid of it there,” she added.
This comment was delivered in a light-hearted manner, but did not land well with the Comeragh Councillors who pushed back against the suggestion that the Comeragh region was not an area of high offending.
“I think it [the bulky goods day] is a necessity and it’s important for people in the rural areas too,” said Cllr. Liam Brazil.
“I’m surprised to hear that you went into the city with your CCTV, but the county is so important. I do believe there is more rubbish being dumped and collected out the county than is being collected in the city. I’m going to fight this case because I do believe it,” Cllr. Brazil said.
“We’re here in the Comeragh District (meeting) every month talking about rubbish. And we can see that when we have the collection, whether it’s the Comeragh Clean-Up, or Ballymac’ clean-up or the clean-up in Kilmeaden every Saturday, there’s always rubbish there.
“I don’t believe anyone inside in the city is doing the same work,” Cllr. Brazil added.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
AARON KENT
