Higher fines needed for 'fly-tipping low-lives', says Tipperary councillor

Cllr John Carroll congratulated the Environment Section of Tipperary County Council for their excellent work in collecting farm plastics, during the recent monthly meeting of Nenagh Municipal District.

The councillor added that “a small minority of people are responsible for the flytipping problem in the county. It's only a small number of low-lives. The litter fines are only €150. They are too low. They should be increased sixfold. Our system for dealing with flytipping and littering is outdated.” 

Cllr Ger Darcy pointed out that three and a half thousand tonnes of waste plastic was collected for recycling throughout Tipperary recently. “This was an impressive amount of material. Well done to the Council and all the farmers who were involved in this.” 

A member of the Environment Section said €40,000 has been secured for an anti fly-tipping campaign. “The campaign will be run on social media and we will hold a litter pick week, probably before the end of August. We will encourage Tidy Towns groups to get involved in the litter pick week. We will set up an online register and we will give out litter pick packs. Our aim is to get the message out there as much as we possibly can that fly tipping is simply not acceptable." 

There was also an update on activities from the Environment and Climate Section during which a member of the Section said there had been a mattress amnesty in recent days during which the Council was accepting mattresses from members of the public. 

The Section member added that the Council's Litter Plan is available for public consultation. Cllr Ger Darcy said he strongly supported the Litter Plan. “I was very glad to see the recent launch of the Plan,” he remarked. “It's an important document.” 

Cllrs Hughie McGrath and John Carroll told the Environment Section member that the trackway leading to Tyone Graveyard in Nenagh needs improving because its surface has deteriorated significantly. They said the Council had done “great work” in Kilmore Cemetery. 

Cllr Ger Darcy said the graveyard boundary wall in Eglish “is in bad shape. Hedging work is also needed there.”