Call to support families in Tipperary struggling with waste costs

Thurles councillor Peggy Ryan has asked the council to look at initiatives to support struggling families with waste disposal.

Cllr Ryan said there are people who accumulate household waste because they cannot afford a collection service.

She said Limerick County Council do have an initiative, but Tipperary does not.

“Some people are suffering, and okay, they are not disposing of their waste in the most environmental way, but people are really struggling.

“We don’t offer any solution for that,” said Cllr Ryan.

Litter vs Pollution

Cllr Ryan made her comments during a discussion on the ongoing issue of illegal dumping at this week’s sitting of the Thurles-Templemore Municipal District Council.

The issue was raised first by Cllr Jim Ryan, who said he has become aware of more areas affected while out canvassing.

He cited Longford Pass as an area in need of attention.

The councillor also said “the mind boggles” at what people dump, some of which is it easier to dispose of properly.

He said that shops take back electricals for recycling, and he would like the public to be made aware of that.

Cllr Seamus Hanafin said the issue of dumping affects everywhere but that not all incidents are the same.

“If someone throws a wrapper out of a window, that is littering.

If someone dumps household waste, that is pollution, and we should deal with that differently,” said Cllr Hanafin.

Cllr Sean Ryan supported his colleagues and said there are a lot of Tidy Town group members doing unpaid work in their areas.

He asked the council to use technology, like drones and cameras to catch and prosecute people who illegally dump their waste.

“It is my understanding that we have that technology at our disposal,” said Cllr Ryan.

Good works

A representative from the environmental section at Tipperary County Council responded saying he did not think it was fair to say the issue was everywhere.

He said last year’s Tidy Towns results show improvements in many areas, and the council are doing work to further address the problem.

He said there are teams doing inspections and investigating complaints, people are prosecuted and fined, and the council are continuing to raise awareness.

“It is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted approach,” said the council official.

The official also said that the council is working with the Household Waste Collection Agency to develop a register of households not signed up for a collection service.

This, they hope will allow them to be more targeted in their compliance checks.

The council are also awaiting codes of practice to be finalised on the use of CCTV to catch people in the act.

But he said in the meantime, civic amenity centres are there with free services and agreed that it is easier to dispose of waste there than to dump it.

“You are dealing with a small minority, and it is a shame that minority get the lion’s share of the attention,” said the official.