A law requiring businesses to clean rubbish outside their premises is not being enforced in Waterford City.
That's according to Fianna Fáil Councillor Eamon Quinlan.
He says the Applemarket in the City was particularly littered with takeaway boxes on Tuesday morning after a student event the night before.
Speaking to WLR News, he said residents in the area have described the issue as "an absolute nightmare" and he is calling on Waterford Council to "get real" on its responsibilities.
"There's been a law on the books for quite some time that requires businesses to clean up any rubbish within a 100 metre radius that was bought in their store ," he said.
"Waterford Council needs to enforce this in the Applemarket and John Street area."
He says "regular trashing" of the area takes place during occasions such as Student Race Day and WITmas.
"The massive crowds that come into the city centre are causing the place to be absolutely trashed," he said.
"Rubbish is strewn all over the city centre, including food wrappers and cans, and is attracting vermin."
Cllr Quinlan pointed out that Council staff members are deployed to carry out clean ups when such instances occur which means "the bill is being passed on to the Waterford taxpayer".
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