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17/12/18 100 tonnes of waste removed from 5 scenic sites

100 tonne clean up

Illegal dumping at Altnashane Carndonagh which was clean-up under the 2018 Anti-dumping Initiative

 

Altnashane after

25 tonnes of waste removed from illegal dump site at Altnashane Carndonagh under the 2018 Anti Dumping Initiative

 

Over 100 tonnes of waste have been removed in the last number of months from five scenic sites across Donegal as part of the 2018 Anti Dumping Initiative.

 

Under this initiative Donegal County Council secured just over €69,000 to clean up what would be described as sites with a history of illegal dumping as well as funding to support community clean-up efforts and for the purchase of additional surveillance equipment to be used in areas where persistent dumping is a problem.

 

The sites targeted were at Single Street, Bundoran, Altnashane and Corbish in Carndonagh and Brinalack and Bloody Foreland in Gweedore.  Each clean-up required extensive planning and the operation involved the hire of diggers, track and tipper machines and labour. 

 

Cllr. Seamus O’Domhnaill Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council has praised the efforts of the Council’s Environmental team who work at the coal face day in and day out to address illegal dumping and littering right across Donegal. 

 

“This is a great initiative and I would like to congratulate Council staff for their work in this area.  Council staff have worked with communities in each of these areas to target what were very serious eyesores in some of the most scenic parts of the county.  I am also delighted to see that the Council has invested in essential surveillance equipment to try and prevent further incidences of dumping at these sites”.

 

Part of the funding secured was invested in top of the range surveillance equipment and this has involved the roll out of covert cameras to locations where persistent dumping is a problem as well as the use of a drone for recording footage from some of the larger sites. Staff members are being trained in the use of the Drone. An audio device is also being trialled at six bring bank locations and a message is played when a sensor is set off reminding users of their obligations when using these sites.

 

Another important element in the Councils strategy to tackling illegal dumping is working with communities right across the county. 

 

Michael McGarvey, Director of Water and Environment explains that “Donegal County Council has enjoyed a terrific relationship with hundreds of volunteers who get together forming many types of groups such as Tidy Towns, residents groups, sports groups, schools and individuals.  Each year as part of the Big Donegal Clean-up the Council receives hundreds of requests for assistance with clean ups and we are only too happy to help. Almost €19,000 of this funding is going towards supporting these groups with equipment. This is a very important part of strengthening the great partnership we have with the many groups who carry out amazing work in their respective areas”.

 

This funding was made available by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment who worked closely with local authorities and community organisations in identifying high risk or problem areas, developing appropriate enforcement responses and carrying out clean-up operations. The initiative was co-ordinated through the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs).

 

 

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