Limerick County Council has agreed new draft waste presentation bye laws which update and enhance the existing bye-laws that came into effect in 2004.
The aim of these bye-laws is to require all households and businesses to sign up to a refuse collection service. Approximately 17,000 households (40%) in the County choose not to sign up to a service, which the local authority has linked to “the chronic and systematic level of unauthorised dumping and backyard burning which takes place in County Limerick”.
Councillor Mary Jackman Chair of the Environment Strategic Policy Committee commented: “This dumping constitutes a blight on our landscape which cannot be allowed to continue any longer. It is difficult to imagine that the equivalent of 600,000 black refuse sacks is dumped illegally every year but the reality is that this is the scale of the problem we face.”
So what will these amended by-laws mean for residents and businesses of County Limerick?
- If you live or operate a business within 200m of a serviced collection route you must enter into a contract with a permitted waste collector (provision is made for bin-sharing in certain circumstances)
- The waste must be presented in separate receptacles: dry recyclables in the recycling bin, food waste and other organics in the brown bin and the remaining waste in your landfill bin (where the three-bin collection system is in operation)
- The waste receptacles must be kept in good condition, must not be over-filled or cause litter and must not cause an obstruction when placed for collection.
- A breach of the bye-laws may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice.
Gerry Behan, Director of Environment, Limerick County Council emphasised the enormous cost associated with illegal dumping and litter.
”It costs the County Council €1.7m per annum to deal with this problem-this money could be put to much better use in other areas such as the provision of amenities and recreational facilities. Imagine the savings to the tax-payer if we all managed our waste properly”, he explained.
The Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, Cllr. Richard Butler said, “Limerick County Council anticipates that these Bye-Laws will encourage proper management of household and commercial waste and will decrease the incidence of illegal dumping in County Limerick, but we want to hear your views.”
Written submissions on these bye-laws should be sent to Regional Waste Co-ordinator, Regional Waste Management Office, Limerick County Council, Lissanalta House, Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick or emailed to pking@limerickcoco.ie
Copies of Draft Bye-Laws are available to download at www.lcc.ie or www.managewaste.ie or contact the Environment Section of Limerick County Council, County Hall, Dooradoyle, County Limerick. They are also available in the Area Offices and Public Libraries.
The aim of these bye-laws is to require all households and businesses to sign up to a refuse collection service. Approximately 17,000 households (40%) in the County choose not to sign up to a service, which the local authority has linked to “the chronic and systematic level of unauthorised dumping and backyard burning which takes place in County Limerick”.
Councillor Mary Jackman Chair of the Environment Strategic Policy Committee commented: “This dumping constitutes a blight on our landscape which cannot be allowed to continue any longer. It is difficult to imagine that the equivalent of 600,000 black refuse sacks is dumped illegally every year but the reality is that this is the scale of the problem we face.”
So what will these amended by-laws mean for residents and businesses of County Limerick?
- If you live or operate a business within 200m of a serviced collection route you must enter into a contract with a permitted waste collector (provision is made for bin-sharing in certain circumstances)
- The waste must be presented in separate receptacles: dry recyclables in the recycling bin, food waste and other organics in the brown bin and the remaining waste in your landfill bin (where the three-bin collection system is in operation)
- The waste receptacles must be kept in good condition, must not be over-filled or cause litter and must not cause an obstruction when placed for collection.
- A breach of the bye-laws may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice.
Gerry Behan, Director of Environment, Limerick County Council emphasised the enormous cost associated with illegal dumping and litter.
”It costs the County Council €1.7m per annum to deal with this problem-this money could be put to much better use in other areas such as the provision of amenities and recreational facilities. Imagine the savings to the tax-payer if we all managed our waste properly”, he explained.
The Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, Cllr. Richard Butler said, “Limerick County Council anticipates that these Bye-Laws will encourage proper management of household and commercial waste and will decrease the incidence of illegal dumping in County Limerick, but we want to hear your views.”
Written submissions on these bye-laws should be sent to Regional Waste Co-ordinator, Regional Waste Management Office, Limerick County Council, Lissanalta House, Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick or emailed to pking@limerickcoco.ie
Copies of Draft Bye-Laws are available to download at www.lcc.ie or www.managewaste.ie or contact the Environment Section of Limerick County Council, County Hall, Dooradoyle, County Limerick. They are also available in the Area Offices and Public Libraries.
