'Unsightly scenes in Tallow' - West Waterford councillor voices concerns
"Unsightly scenes," is how a local councillor described illegal dumping in Tallow Co. Waterford.
Fianna Fáil councillor Mairead Tobin says bins are "overflowing" in the town, where she witnessed an individual illegally placing household rubbish in public bins.
Speaking at the most recent Dungarvan/Lismore district meeting of Waterford City and County council, the West Waterford councillor says it is a sad sight to witness..
"It's very disappointing to walk through the town on a Sunday evening, after seeing the work done by our council team.
"[I witnessed] bins overflowing outside a few businesses in the town and when I say overflowing there was actually rubbish placed on top of them and beside them.
"We can blame the businesses and we can blame young people. Last Thursday morning I was outside and witnessed a lady walking up the street with her household rubbish.
"I had heard that she was [partaking in this practice] on a regular basis. I decided to follow the lady in question, and I witnessed her putting in a few little bits of household rubbish.
"I said to her these are for use by people for businesses in the town to dispose of rubbish they are not for use for household rubbish. On Friday morning I witnessed her passing again with more rubbish."
This is not the first instance of illegal dumping in West Waterford. The council removed 3.5 tonnes of rubbish from a single blackspot in Dungarvan in 2021.
Picture: Waterford Council
Councillor Tobin continued by saying that fly-tipping is on the rise across the whole county.
"As a council, we don't have the ability to determine who has household disposal or what they use in their homes.
"They are now using the bins in the town by filling them up and creating what I will say was an unsightly scene in Tallow.
"Fly-tipping is on the rise across the county. How many of those people have been identified and how many have been prosecuted?
"We need a message to go out we are not tolerating it. This is blatant abuse by adult members of society."
An illegal dumping incident can result in a fine of up to €3,000 or 12 months imprisonment, or even both, under the Waste Management Act.
Waterford City and County Councils Illegal Dumping Litter Hotline can be contacted on 0761 10 2885.
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