"Sea of Filth"

FG Councillor Anne Dillon-Gallagher has complained of a major dumping episode near the recycling centre at Mell in a report in the Drogheda Independent. According to the article, "Cllr Dillon-Gallagher said we must consider the cost, not just in monetary terms but also to the environment.
'We have to get across to the public that it is their civic duty to report this illegal activity to the environment section of the council,' she said."

In a similar story in the Dundalk Democrat, SF Councillor Ian Dooley has highlighted the same issue. According to the piece, "people who witness or know of illegal dumping to contact the litter hotline on (free phone) 1800 20 26 06."

Perhaps the apparent recent increase in illegal dumping is due to the economic downturn, however there can be no excuse. The impact of a single bag of domestic waste in terms of clean-up and longer term impact on the environment, especially if waterways are affected, is inestimable. Some materials such as plastic can persist in the environment for hundreds of years - in fact it is estimated that every piece of plastic ever manufactured is still in existence, much of it in the sea, barring what was incinerated. Food waste attracts rats that bring diseases such as Weil's disease. Other waste is toxic and may contaminate ground water. But most of all rubbish is unsightly and offensive.

It is an offence to dump any kind of waste and waste is very broadly defined under the Waste Management Act eg "Products for which the holder has no further use." Penalties range up to 10 million Euro fines and 10 years in jail.

Any dumping episode can also be reported to the EPA on 1850 365 121 where callers can give information anonymously to a trained operator 24-hours a day. All of these calls are followed up by the Gardai, EPA and local authoraties.