Annual Report 2005 - English Version ( pdf file - 3340 kb in size)

Limerick County Council Annual Report 2005Litter ManagementLimerick County Council continued to implement itsmulti-faceted approach to tackling the problem ofindiscriminate littering throughout the County.A combination of awareness, enforcement and othermeasures were adopted to promote behaviouralchanges among all sectors of the population towardslittering and illegal dumping. The three EnvironmentalControl Officers were actively engaged in enforcing theprovisions of the Litter Pollution/Waste ManagementActs e.g., investigating litter complaints, abandonedvehicles, backyard burning, etc. In 2005, theEnvironmental Control Officers were assigned 2010complaints and 85% (1710) of these were resolvedwithin this period. The Council’s two clean-up crewsworked in tandem with the Environmental ControlOfficers and carried out works to eliminate a numberof black spot areas throughout the County.Council staff issued a total of 112 on-the-spot finesunder the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003. Each fineis €125.00 and a collection rate of 83% was recordedfor the year. Furthermore, a total of 34 prosecutionswere initiated under the Litter Pollution/WasteManagement Acts and 11 convictions were secured.A total of 117 groups participated in National SpringClean, which is run by the Council in conjunctionwith An Taisce during the month of April. TheEnvironmental Control Officers worked closely withthese groups by co-ordinating clean-ups, providingbags, gloves, litter pickers etc., and organising forthe collection/disposal of all waste. Limerick CountyCouncil appreciates the work of all participants inimproving the appearance of their local areas.The Council received a grant of €12,500 from theDoEHLG under the Anti-Litter Awareness InitiativesGrant Scheme. These monies were used on anti-litterpublicity type projects including the design of a litterlogo, tax disc holders, car litter bags etc.The DoEHLG introduced the National Litter PollutionMonitoring System in 1999 to monitor the levelsof litter pollution on a nationwide basis. As part ofthe National Litter Pollution Monitoring System theCouncil’s Environmental Control Officers carried outa number of Litter Pollution Quantification Surveys in2005. The results of the surveys allow us to measurethe extent and severity of litter pollution withinour functional area, recognise the types, most likelysources and causes of litter, monitor the changes inlitter levels from location to location and over time,identify the location of litter black-spots, and evaluatethe impact of anti-litter measures.Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Eddie Wade launches the Council’sCar Litter Bag in the drive against litterWaste ManagementRegional Waste Management OfficeAs lead authority for the implementation of theLimerick/Clare/Kerry Regional Waste ManagementPlan, the Council administers the Regional WasteOffice, which, at present, is located in Mallow Street,Limerick. The office employs a Regional Waste Co-Ordinator, a Waste Minimisation Officer, an ExecutiveScientist and an Assistant Staff Officer. The DraftWaste Management Plan was launched in October anda very active pubic consultation process followed. Thisis due to be completed in mid-April, 2006 by whichtime all prescribed bodies will have been consulted onthe Plan.The office processes Waste Collection Permitapplications. To date, a total of 352 have beenreceived, 281 of which have been granted. It hasresponsibility for reviewing Annual EnvironmentalReports submitted in respect of “waste movements”.The office also co-ordinates waste enforcement inthe region in conjunction with the EPA’s EnforcementNetwork and played a key role in implementing theWEEE regulations introduced in August. Furthermore,the Regional Waste Management Office manages theBusiness-to-Business (B2B) Green Mentor Programme,which focuses on waste prevention in the commercialsector. This project is funded under the EPA’s CleanerGreener Production Programme.20