This article is from page 12 of the 2011-03-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
ALMOST 30 bags of rubbish were collected by members of Clare County Council’s waste enforcement team during a clean-up carried out last week on the outskirts of Clarecastle.
The clean up was carried out by staff attached to the council’s Ennis area office last Wednesday along a stretch of the N18 road from Clarecastle to Latoon.
The green bags, which were spotted by members of the public along the road, were transported to the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff Beg, Inagh.
The initiative forms part of the council’s ongoing attempts to prevent the practice of illegal littering around the county.
In 2010, a total of 58 litter fines were issued and 23 prosecutions were taken under either the Litter Pollution Acts, 1997-2003 or the Waste Management Acts, 19962010, in the Clare County Council functional area.
Betty Devanny, Administrative Officer with the council’s waste enforcement section explained, “Clare County Council has a dedicated waste enforcement team that responds and takes appropriate enforcement action in relation to waste and litter complaints. Where evidence of acts of littering or illegal waste is found then action is taken under relevant litter pollution and waste management legislation.”
She added, “This is not to mention the litter enforcement work undertaken by Ennis Town Council. The Ennis East Electoral includes areas within both Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council and, as such, the two councils liaise on an ongoing basis in order to share information and expertise, and ensure the optimal use of their respective resources.”
Ms Devanny said the council’s waste enforcement team takes a proactive approach to dealing with illegal waste and litter activities. This includes the deployment of CCTV surveillance, vehicle checkpoints in conjunction with the Gardaí, targeting of illegal dumping at problem locations, planned inspections and audits of waste facilities.
Area offices also work closely with community groups while the environmental patrol warden and community warden conduct routine daily patrols in Ennis and around Clare.
Ms Devanny added, “In county council areas, area-based staff are involved in the removal of waste and litter on public roads and other public lands and carry out these works as part of their other duties within the areas. The waste enforcement section on an ongoing basis encourages and facilitates community involvement in waste and litter prevention and removal.”
Ms Devanny encouraged communities to get involved in the National Spring Clean organised by An Taisce. Communities can register with An Taisce for each year by telephone on 01 4002219 or online at www.nationalspringclean.org. Free passes to Clare County Council’s waste management facilities can then be provided to all registered groups who participate in a local community clean up.