Members of An Garda Síochána have issued a warning to the public about unauthorised collectors in a bid to reduce instances of illegal dumping on the run-up to Christmas.
In a brief warning to members of the public, Gardaí in Co. Meath said:
“In the lead up to Christmas please think about the countryside with all the rubbish that you are going to pick up in the next few weeks.
This is just another example of what happens when you use unauthorised collectors. Any rubbish collectors must have an authorised waste collectors permit.
“It’s absolutely disgusting to see images like this,” the Garda post added.
The problem has been an ongoing issue in the “Royal County”, with Meath County Council noting feedback from members of the public regarding illegal dumping on fields and private property last month.
The local authority has stressed that it is continuously working to prevent illegal dumping.
In a statement in November Meath County Council said:
To help us in doing so, we ask farmers and land owners to ensure that their property is secure and where possible that gates are installed and locked to try and prevent easy access to lands, to make it more difficult for these individuals to dump.
“We are passionate about the fight against illegal dumping and our team is doing all that they can to catch those responsible,” the local authority said.
“Legally, landowners are responsible for waste that arises on their lands – but we will continue to assist landowners who find themselves in this predicament, and can be contacted at: [email protected],” the council concluded.
The issue of illegal dumping on rural property has been an ongoing issue across the country, with examples highlighted in Galway, Roscommon, Wexford and Meath previously.