Litter Management Plan 2012-2014 - Laois County Council

COMHAIRLE CHONTAE LAOISELitter Management Plan2012-2014Environment SectionLaois County Council

TABLE OF CONTENTSPage No.1. INTRODUCTION1.1 Background………………………………………………………………………. 31.2 County Profile………………………………………………………………….. 31.3 Map of Laois…………………………………………………………………….. 51.4 Scope of the Plan……………………………………………………………. 61.5 Format of the Plan………………………………………………………….. 62. LITTER LEGISLATION2.1 Definition of litter…………………………………………………………. 72.2 Main causes/constituents of litter……………………………. 82.3 Responsibilities: Local Authority………………………………. 12Business……………………………………………. 12Public…………………………………………………. 122.3 Statistics…………………………………………………………………………. 133. EDUCATION & AWARENESS3.1 Overview……………………………………………………………………………. 133.2 Strategies: Personnel………………………………………………….. 13Publications/Advertising……………………….. 14Schools Programme…………………………………. 15Landfill & Recycling Centre Educ.Tours 16Local Agenda 21 – Env. Partnership Fund 17Composting……………………………………………….. 174. PARTNERSHIP/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT4.1 Overview…………………………………………………………………………… 184.2 Strategies: Clean-Up Laois Week……………………………. 18Tidy Towns Cooperation……………………….. 19Art From Waste…………………………………….. 20Summer Wheelie Bin Scheme…………….. 21Free Support Materials……………………….. 211

5. LITTER PREVENTION & CONTROL5.1 Overview…………………………………………………………………………… 225.2 Strategies: Street Cleansing……………………………………. 22Presentation of refuse for collection.. 23Authorised Waste Collections……………. 23Food Regulations 2009…………………………. 24Free Phone Litter Hotline.………………….. 25Surveillance/Monitoring………………………. 25Roadside Clean-Ups..…………………………….. 25Checkpoints …………....……………………………. 26Anti-Litter Campaigns………………………….. 26PAL Committee……………………………………….. 30National Litter Pollution Monitoring…..31System………………………………………………………I.B.A.L…………………………..………………………….. 31Banking Protocol…………………………………….. 316. ENFORCEMENT6.1 Overview…………………………………………………………………………… 326.2 Strategies: Litter Management Service.………………. 32On-The-Spot Fines……………………………….. 33Direct Prosecutions………………………………. 33Name & Shame Campaign…………………….. 35End of Life Vehicle Regulations…………. 35Major Events………………………………………….. 36Unauthorised signage.………………………….. 377. RECYCLING & RECOVERY7.1 Overview…………………………………………………………………………… 387.2 Strategies: Recycling Centre…………………..………………. 38Bring Bank Facilities...………………………….. 38Household Dry Recyclable Collection… 388. APPENDICESContact Phone Numbers……………………………………………… 40Bring Bank Sites…………………………………………………………… 41Street Sweeping Schedule.………………………………………… 432

1. INTRODUCTION1.1 BackgroundIt is widely acknowledged that litter pollution does not just affecttowns and villages but also our roadsides, protected areas, amenityareas etc. By allowing this very visible form of pollution to continue, itwill have an adverse affect on how we view the areas we visit or live inand it affects our quality of life. Everyone should have the right to alitter-free environment.Unfortunately, we often read comments in the national and localpapers from tourists who, whilst enjoying their stay, are dismayed bythe volume of litter on streets and roadsides. Despite considerableinvestment in street cleansing & litter control, education & awarenessand enforcement at a local level, Laois has a continuing & visible litterproblem.It is the view of this Council that this challenge is best addressed byworking in partnership with key stakeholders (Tidy Towns,Committees, Voluntary Groups, Schools, Business Community and otherpublic bodies) in our community to combat this problem. Its success isalso dependent on maximising resources and seeking a fundamentalchange in the behaviour of each and every citizen of our County. It isalso important that communities do not tolerate anyone littering intheir areas – the witnessing of litter offences should be immediatelyreported with specific details to the Environment Section.1.2 County ProfileLaois is one of the most strategically located counties in Ireland. Setin the heart of the Country, its principal town, Portlaoise, is at thejunction of the N7 and N8 national primary routes. Both of theseroads are of major importance in Ireland‟s transportation network.Other main towns include Mountmellick, Mountrath, Portarlington,Stradbally, Rathdowney, Abbeyleix & Durrow. Laois is the only countyin Ireland entirely surrounded by counties that do not touch the sea,and this has helped give the county its own unique character.3

Covering an area of 664 square miles and with a population of over67,059 (2006 census), the centre of County Laois is dominated bylarge tracts of tillage and pasture land, bounded on the east by theKilleshin plateau. To the north, the Slieve Bloom Mountains give thecounty a rugged backdrop, and provide a centre for outdoor activities.Evidence of the heritage of Laois is dotted around the county.Ancient ring forts and burial grounds, early monastic buildings, normanand medieval castles, and colonial estate houses such as Emo Court arejust some of the diverse points of interest for visitors.The two principal rivers, the Nore and the Barrow, flow from northwestto south-west to drain almost the entire county. Other riversworthy of note are the Erkina, Boherbaum, Bauteogue, Owenass,Owenbeg, Whitehorse, Glorian, Delour, Triogue and Silver rivers.Also, there are the delightful lakes of Masslough, Grantstown &Ballyfin and in the north-east, the Grand Canal with its Barrow Branch.4

1.3 Scope of the PlanThe Plan sets out Laois County Councils objectives to prevent &control litter, our lead role in enforcement, as well as measures toencourage public awareness of the litter problem, with particularemphasis on educational and information strategies.The Plan includes information on, and was prepared having regard to:The policies & objectives of the Council in relation to theprevention and control of litterExisting litter prevention & control measures being carried out bythe Council and their continued commitment to the EnvironmentLitter prevention and control activities being carried out byagencies other than the CouncilRecycling & recovery facilities for public useThe Council‟s enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act As AmendedPromoting the concept of more intense partnership arrangementswith everyone in the community and the adoption of Best Practice.1.4 Format of the PlanLaois County Council believes that the litter problem in the County canbe best tackled through comprehensive action in five key areas, andthis Plan is set out accordingly. These areas are as follows:Education & AwarenessPartnership/Community InvolvementLitter Prevention & ControlEnforcementRecycling & RecoveryThe Plan commences with the legislation pertaining to litter, maincauses and where the responsibilities lie, including that of the localauthority. Each of the abovementioned key areas is then looked at indetail including the activities and strategies undertaken by theCouncil. The Plan concludes with Appendices and a list of importantcontacts.6

2. LITTER LEGISLATION2.1 Definition of LitterThe Litter Pollution Act 1997 As Amended is the main enablinglegislation introduced to address the issue of litter and provided, forthe first time, a legal definition of litter.Section 2 of this Act defines litter as“a substance or object, whether or not intended as waste(other than waste within the meaning of the WasteManagement Act, 1996, which is properly consigned fordisposal) that, when deposited in a place other than areceptacle or other place lawfully designated for the deposit,is or is likely to become unsightly, deleterious, nauseous orunsanitary, whether by itself or with any such substance orobject, and regardless of its size or volume or the extent ofthe deposit”.In practical terms, the above definition means that any item that isthrown or discarded carelessly will be considered as litter andincludes everything from a spent match or cigarette end to anabandoned vehicle in a public place. As a result, it will not be possibleto argue that, for example, food waste (even biodegradable waste)does not constitute litter.Cigarette –related litter7

2.2 Main Constituents of LitterLitter remains a national problem that requires a consistent,concentrated approach to address the issue effectively. Thecooperation of all community sectors is required – Laois County Councilalone cannot eradicate the problem.“litter is created by the actions of individuals, and the problemwill only be dealt with by the same individuals takingresponsibility for their actions”.The composition of litter pollution is established by carrying outLitter Quantification Surveys. In 2009 (latest figures), surveys showthat packaging litter is the main constituent of litter with cigaretterelated litter coming in at a high second. The “smoking ban” whichresulted in customers taking their habit out onto the streets appearsto be the main contributory factor for such litter on our streets.Litter Composition in Laois County Council, 2009Cigarette Related Litter 32.95%Food Related Litter 11.97%Packaging Litter 40.15%Sweet Related Liter 8.51%Paper Litter 3.73%Deleterious Litter 1.73%Miscellaneous 0.09%Large Litter Items 0.73%Plastic Litter 0.14%Figure 0.1 Composition of Litter Pollution in Laois County CouncilThe actual litter count for the main litter categories in Laois CountyCouncil‟s functional area is detailed in Table 2.1. below.8

Significance Litter Category Count1 Packaging Litter 8822 Cigarette Related Litter 7243 Food Related Litter 2634 Sweet Related Litter 1875 Paper Litter 826 Deleterious Litter Items 387 Large Litter Items 1689Plastic Litter (Nonpackaging)Miscellaneous LitterItems32Table 0.1Litter Categories Ranked in Order of Significance for Laois County CouncilFurther breakdowns of the major constituents of litter are represented inFigures 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7.Detailed Analysis of Packaging Litter50%40%30%20%10%0%PlasticPackagingMetalPackagingTakeawayPackagingPaperPackagingGlassPackaging2009 26.98% 28.46% 18.37% 18.03% 8.16%2008 42.75% 14.55% 15.16% 17.34% 10.19%9

Detailed Analysis of Cigarette Related Litter90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%Cigarette endsCigarette boxesand wrappersMatchesMatchboxes andlighters2009 85.36% 7.18% 6.91% 0.55%2008 64.42% 34.03% 0.26% 1.30%Figure 2.5 Detailed Analysis of Cigarette Related Litter in Laois County CouncilDetailed Analysis of Food Related Litter100%80%60%40%20%0%Chewing GumBread/ biscuitsFruit/vegetablesFast-foodremnantsRemnants ofconfectioneryfood itemsOther fooditems2009 94.68% 0.38% 2.66% 0.38% 1.14% 0.76%2008 19.57% 0.00% 21.74% 39.13% 19.57% 0.00%Figure 2.6 Detailed Analysis of Food Related Litter in Laois County Council10

Detailed Analysis of Sweet Related Litter90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%StrawsLollipop Sticks(wooden/plastics)Crisp BagsSweet Wrappers(plastic/foil)2009 12.30% 11.23% 50.80% 25.67%2008 4.76% 0.00% 80.95% 14.29%Figure 2.7 Detailed Analysis of Sweet Related Litter in Laois County CouncilMain Causative Factors of LitterWhilst carrying out the litter pollution surveys, the local LitterWardens establish how the litter most likely was discarded. In orderof priority, the findings were as follows:Passing pedestrians - 28.2%Gathering points - 17.3%Places of leisure/entertainment - 16.3%Passing motorists - 10.7%Retail Outlets - 9.2%Fast food outlets - 9.2%Schools/School children - 3.1%Bank ATMS - 2.0%Fly-tipping/dumping - 1.0%Bring Banks - 1.0%Bus Stops - 1.0%Overflowing bins - 1.0%11

2.3 Responsibilities under Litter Pollution Act 1997 As AmendedThe following are some of the main obligations under this Act:Local AuthorityEach local authority is obliged to prepare and implement a LitterManagement Plan for their administrative area which should bereviewed at least once every three years. In addition, the localauthority should furnish an “Annual Report” to the Membersoutlining all measures taken to achieve the objectives of the Plan.The local authority shall take all practicable measures to prevent,control and dispose of litterPromote awareness of litter pollution and its effectsEncourage participation of the public in preventing and overcominglitter pollutionEnforce the law and apply the penalties and legal sanctions.BusinessesAn occupier of land and/or public place has a responsibility to keepthe area litter free. Private land which is visible from a publicplace should be kept free of litter.Additional responsibilities on persons owning, operating or incharge of mobile outlets and those who organise major eventsIt is a breach of the Act to erect unauthorised advertisements inpublic places.It is an offence to place advertisement flyers on vehicles.Ensure that waste is transported securely and disposed of in aproper manner to avoid causing a litter nuisance (e.g. using trailernets etc)PublicNo person shall create litter in a public place or a place visiblefrom a public placeDog owners are responsible for their pets waste – dog fouling mustbe removed and disposed of in a proper manner from public areasVehicle owners are responsible for waste emanating from theirvehicle12

StatisticsDid you know that the cost of street sweeping in Laois in 2010 wasapproximately €352,000?Expenditure incurred by the Environment Section on specific antilitterinitiatives was €127,500In April 2011, in excess of 38 tonnes of litter/illegally dumpedwaste was collected manually by communities during “Clean-UpLaois Week”.At end December 2010, 818 environmental complaints were logged- 621 complaints related to litter/illegal dumping constituting 76%of all complaints received. Complaints have doubled in two years(i.e. 411 in 2008) which demonstrates the publics intolerance oflitter pollution.3. EDUCATION & AWARENESS3.1 OverviewIn order to prevent litter arising in the first instance, Laois CountyCouncil believe that education and awareness are important tools inmaking the public aware of the problem that exists in relation tolitter. The Council is committed to using a combination of measures toensure that the anti-litter message is reinforced at every opportunity.In order to increase public awareness and a consciousness of eachindividual‟s responsibilities, Laois County Council has taken thefollowing measures:3.2 StrategiesPersonnelLaois County Council employs a full-time Environmental AwarenessOfficer (EAO) to raise public awareness on environmental issues. Thisincludes the generation of effective publicity to ensure that acomprehensive programme of education and information is provided onwaste management & litter, waste prevention and minimisation.Maximising community participation in the Council‟s activities andinitiatives is also to the forefront in the area of litter managementand control. In addition to the vital role carried out by the EAO, theEnvironment Section have a dedicated Litter Management/Waste13

Enforcement Team which includes three full-time EnforcementOfficers (Litter Wardens).Publications/Advertising“Our County” – A newsletter which is produced once a year by thisCouncil. This magazine provides an opportunity for each Section ofthe Council to promote their initiatives.“Imeachtaí”- Internal newsletter published every quarter forexisting/retired staff and all Elected Members informing them ofevents within the organisation which includes environmental themedarticles.“Litter & The Law” –. The leaflet sets out in a clear and concisefashion the responsibilities of individuals, property owners andbusinesses in relation to litter and is available to the wider community.Business Guide to Wise Waste Management – A very informativeleaflet produced by the EAO‟s in the Midlands Region. It specificallytargets the business sector.Making Sense from Talking Rubbish – An easy to read leafletavailable for distribution to the general public on reducing, reusing andrecycling with important information on the landfill (opening hours,costs involved) including a list of recyclable materials accepted atPortlaoise Recycling Centre.EcoCert Programme – Laois County Council also promotes thisProgramme which is a joint initiative with the EPA, Laois, Offaly,Waterford and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Councils as well asWaterford City Council. This programme is aimed at businesses toreduce costs in the area of waste, energy and water.Public Relations Campaign – The Council make use of the local mediato publicise anti-litter initiatives.Billboard and Cinema Advertising - This highly visible form ofadvertising was utilised in the past for anti-litter campaigns and it isanticipated, that owing to its success, it will be utilised again. Cinemaadvertising was also another successful form of advertising which wascarried out in conjunction with neighbouring local authorities.Website – Laois County Council will continue to review the informationcurrently available on our website with the aim of improving therelevance and quality of information on our anti-litter measures.Social networking also plays a role in the ongoing promotion of our14

environmental message and both Twitter and Facebook are updatedregularly.Schools ProgrammeGreen SchoolsLaois County Council believe that by bringing the anti-litter messageto the youth of today, primary/secondary school students, substantialprogress can be made in ensuring that the next generation willconsider a litter-free environment to be a basic entitlement.The EAO actively promotes the participation by schools in the GreenSchools Programme, co-ordinated by An Taisce. The aim is to developenvironmental awareness in both the school itself and the widercommunity. There is a strong emphasis on litter in the early stages ofthe five modules “Waste & Litter”. Schools that successfullycomplete their programme can apply for a Green Flag which must berenewed every two years. To date, 57 schools have received GreenFlag status with other schools registered. The EAO proactivelytargets schools in order to increase the participation level and thenumber of green flags in the county.Green Schools15

Tidy Primary Schools CompetitionThis competition is now well established and is hosted annually in thespring school term. Staff from Environment, which includes the localLitter Wardens for the area, visit each participating school andsurvey the exterior of the school grounds for the presence/absenceof litter. In addition, waste management measures includingwildlife/nature is adjudicated upon. The school is also obliged tosubmit a Litter Management Plan for consideration and cognisance istaken of their participation in the Green Schools programme.Awareness/Education – Killenard Primary SchoolTeacher’s SeminarsThe EAO hosts „go green in the classroom‟ and green schools seminarsthroughout the school year. These courses are a combination of weeklong summer courses and evening courses. These are well attended byprimary and secondary schools teachers and have contributed to thehigh green flag success rate in Co Laois.Landfill & Recycling Educational ToursAs part of Laois County Council‟s commitment to education inenvironmental matters, school tours of the Waste Managementfacility at Kyletalesha and Portlaoise Recycling Centre will continue totake place on a regular basis during the school year. School childrencan see, first hand, what happens to their waste after the bin mancollects the refuse from outside their home to its final destination.16

Local Agenda 21Local Agenda 21 is a process which facilitates the principle ofsustainable development at a local level. A dedicated team preparedan Internal Action Plan which sets out targets by various sectionswithin the organisation. This Plan was adopted by the ElectedMembers in 2007 and is updated on an annual basis. The Committeehas also published a County Action Plan which promotes sustainabledevelopment using 5 key themes (Promotion of Sustainable Living,Promotion of Sustainable Employment, Promoting Sustainable Land useManagement, Facilitating and Promoting Sustainable TransportProgrammes and the Promotion and Awareness of SustainableDevelopment).CompostingThe Environmental Awareness Officer and County Horticulturalist joinforces on an annual basis to promote Composting and WildlifeGardening during their Compost Awareness Week. Seminars are heldin local libraries during Spring and are advertised locally.Composting Awareness Week – Mountrath Library17

4. PARTNERSHIP/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT4.1 OverviewWhilst the Council recognises its role as the lead authority incombating litter, it is also aware that litter is a problem for the wholecommunity and as such can only be solved through co-operation with allrelevant interest groups. The purpose of such partnerships is thecreation of a shared responsibility for the eradication of litter.4.2 StrategiesClean-Up Laois WeekLaois County Council in association with An Taisce‟s National SpringClean Campaign organise a “Clean Up Laois Week” during the month ofApril each year. Laois County Council assists registered groups,committees, schools and individuals by providing bags, gloves andlitter-pickers free of charge. During this campaign, the local LitterWardens oblige by taking away the “hand-picked” bags to the locallandfill at no costs to the participating groups. In early April 2011, inexcess of 38 tonnes was collected from around the County.Last October 2010, the Environment Section organised a similarcommunity clean-up with the onus on registered groups to bring thebags of hand-picked litter directly to the landfill.18

Local traders, school children, the Gardaí, PAL members, MacraNa Feirme & LCC staff launch Clean Up Laois Week 2011Tidy Towns CooperationThe Federation of Tidy Towns promotes best practice, ideas and thesharing of information amongst Committees including litter-relatedissues. There are currently 30 Committees in the Federation.Much valuable work has been carried out by these hard-workingCommittees who invest both their voluntary time and skills inenhancing their locations protecting the built and natural environment.Each year, the annual Laois Federation of Tidy Towns Competition isheld. This competition has proved to be hugely successful with allCommittees. It allows towns and villages of varying standards tocompete with each other where they might not otherwise be affordedthe chance at national level. Committees compete under the followingcategories; Best Built Environment, Best Natural Environment, BestLitter Control and Private Housing Estate Category with judging takingplace during July and August. Judges furnish a comprehensive reportof their findings to the Committees at the annual Awards Ceremony.In 2010, 26 Committees entered this very successful competition. Aseparate competition for local authority housing estates is carried outby our colleagues in Housing Department.19

The Environment Section will continue to ensure that they support andprovide assistance to these Groups to encourage and maintain the highstandard in the respective towns/villages.Awards Night2009Art from WasteThis competition is now recognised as an annual event and is run jointlyby Laois County Council and the Laois Federation of the I.C.A.Students are invited to design projects from waste materials. Theidea behind this competition is to encourage children to use materialsnormally considered “waste”. This fosters the concept of reusing andrecycling as well as protecting our environment. Various “themes” forthe competition are announced each year on which students base theircleverly designed recycling works.Art From Waste -Derrylamogue NS20

Summer Wheelie Bin SchemeThe Council will continue its yearly provision of both a refuse andrecycling bin to interested Tidy Towns groups for the summer period.In 2010, 26 Committees availed of this initiative.Free Support MaterialsThroughout the year, the Environment Section maintain a quantity oflitter pickers for distribution to groups who wish to participate inlocal community clean-ups. All bags collected can be disposed of tothe landfill free of charge once prior notice and approval granted.A number of reusable bags were made available to the public with aview to highlighting the benefits of reusable shopping bags and theproblems associated with the disposable plastic shopping bags as botha litter and waste problem. The introduction of the Plastic Bag levywas very successful encouraging shoppers to reuse their bags or optfor a recyclable bag as mentioned already.In addition, the EAO distributes environmental literature and postersto schools and businesses.21

5. LITTER PREVENTION & CONTROL5.1 OverviewThe Council recognises that regardless of the efforts in raising publicawareness of the litter problem, there will always be a requirement toundertake litter prevention and control measures to a greater orlesser extent. The Council will continue to provide these services asresources allow ensuring the county is as free of litter as possible.5.2 StrategiesStreet CleansingKeeping the streets clear of litter is an ongoing challenge for any localauthority. Laois County Council‟s Roads Section provides a dedicatedstreet cleansing and sweeping service to help alleviate the problem.The collection and disposal of litter makes enormous demands on thehuman and financial resources of the local authority. Appendix IIIattached shows the updated Street Cleansing Programme which wasrevised in 2009.Local school-children get togrips with the street sweeperwith General Operator, NoelFarrellLitter Bin ProvisionDuring the four-year term (2005-2008), over 121 litter binsincorporating cigarette ashtrays were purchased and installed atstrategic locations around the County where demand was deemed tobe the greatest. In 2010, an additional 10 solar bins were purchasedfor Portlaoise town. A small quantity of bins are purchased from time22

to time with bins removed often relocated to other areas if felt to bein good condition.Presentation of refuse for collectionTaking a few small precautions in the way refuse is presented forcollection helps enormously in preventing the creation of litter. If awheelie bin or ordinary refuse bin is not being used, strong plasticbags should be used as an alternative and properly secured.As per the Waste Presentation Bye-Laws 2009, refuse should only beleft out on the morning of collection if possible and not on theday/night before. The longer the household waste is left out forcollection, the more likely it is to attract the unwanted attention ofdogs, cats, birds and vermin. Customers should also be aware thatwaste collectors are not obliged to take excess waste.Authorised CollectorsIt is imperative that householders know who they give their waste toensuring that its final destination is to an authorised landfill.Prospective customers of waste collectors should request to see theirWaste Collection Permits, Permit No. and/or look for identification.In addition, landlords should ensure, as part of their RentalAgreement, that all tenant/s have a proper waste disposal system inplace. The Environment Section are currently liaising with HousingDepartment to ensure that the conditions of Tenancy Agreementsreflect the importance of having an authorised accountable waste23

disposal system in place. Joint visits by Housing/Environment on localauthority dwellings are carried out on an ongoing basis.Photo 1Photo 2Bin Presentation Area before (Photo1) and After (Photo 2) LitterWarden’s intervention.]Food Waste Regulations 2009From 1 st July 2010, householders in six towns (Portlaoise,Portarlington, Graiguecullen, Mountmellick, Abbeyleix & Mountrath)are required to segregate their food waste from other waste thatthey produce. Waste collection firms that are providing a service tothe affected locations are also obliged to provide a third bin i.e.brown bin. The Waste Enforcement Team have completed inspectionsof its implementation and ongoing spotchecks by landfill staff will becarried out at the landfill.A brown bin area is provided at the Recycling Centre for domesticcustomers. Specially crested compostable bags can be purchasedfrom vending machines both in County Hall and at the Landfill. Thecost of the bags are €12.50 for a pack of 5.24

Free Phone Confidential Litter HotlineNot only is the line confidential, but allows for out-of-hours reportingof litter pollution in the evenings and at weekends. Members of thepublic are in a position to report incidences without being identifiedencouraging third parties to alert the Council to such illegal activities.The hotline is promoted at every opportunity and through thedistribution of anti-litter merchandise to the wider community.Remember! The number is 1800 323230 (1800 dirty too, dirty too,dirty!!)Surveillance/MonitoringWhilst budgets are limited, this Section will explore all optionsavailable to find the most economical and suitable form of cctvavailable for remote surveillance. Such cctv may be crucial inidentifying regular litter offenders however this service is veryexpensive and, despite hi-tech equipment, it is not always successful.Out-of-hours surveillance by Waste Enforcement personnel/LitterWardens at identified sites is seen as the best option available.Illegal Dumping Sites/Roadside Clean-UpsA clean-up budget for this purpose on main arterial routes is allocatedevery year. The successful Contractor, chosen through the Tenderprocess, carries out such clean-ups on behalf of Environment Sectionwhen required. A schedule is drawn up for identified roadside cleanupswhich are carried out at peak times during the year. Localcommunities/voluntary groups play a vital role in helping to keep litterto a minimum in their areas through regular litter picks.25

sCleansing of litter blackspot by ContractorCheckpointsIn conjunction with the Litter Wardens, the Waste EnforcementTeam and members of An Garda Siochana, carry out a number ofcheckpoints every year. Such checkpoints are carried out at varyinglocations and their purpose is mainly to ensure that waste collectorsare authorised and adhering to their permits. In addition, customersgoing to/from the landfill will be monitored to ensure that strictmeasures (waste enclosed/use of trailer nets) are implemented toavoid losing waste. The staff at the landfill are also committed to“declining” access to the landfill for insufficiently secured loads.ANTI-LITTER CAMPAIGNS – AnnualInter-Community Litter ChallengeThis annual anti-litter competition, between participating towns andvillages in the County, has proved very successful since its inception in2006. The success of the competition can be further measured by aremarkable increase in the marks allocated to participating towns inthe National Tidy Towns Awards. Environment Section recognisetheir pro-active role with the communities involved and assist byproviding support and anti-litter material26

Community busy at work preparing for Inter-CommunityLitter Challenge & Tidy TownsCommunity Litter Action ProgrammeIntroduced in 2008, this programme is based on a partnershipapproach to tackle the anti-social behaviour of littering –from smallscale (chewing gum, cigarette butts) to large scale (fly tipping in bogs,gateways etc). It is not a competition but surveys are carried out byEnvironment personnel between selected villages. . One of the aimsof the programme is to strengthen the link between the localauthority and the community with assistance/support and merchandisedistributed to those involved. In 2011, this Section has agreed towork with Portlaoise town through the PAL Committee and PortlaoiseTidy Towns group.ANTI-LITTER CAMPAIGNS - OngoingDog Fouling CampaignThere is now a high percentage of dog ownership in our towns andvillages and, as a result, the incidences of dog fouling on public sitesare increasing. Dog owners are responsible for their pets‟ waste witha legal obligation on them to remove and dispose of it in a propermanner, as per Section 22 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 asAmended.27

The Environment Section have carried out a “Dog Fouling Campaign” inconjunction with the Local Dog Warden in recent years. This campaignis ongoing and includes the following:Anti dog fouling posters distributed to businesses andadvertisements placed in the local papers.A quantity of dog fouling signs were designed and placed atstrategic locations i.e. parks, green areas, public footpaths.Temporary signage is also available for residential groups whohave identified a problem with this litter offence in theirlocality.“Responsible dog ownership” leaflets designed and distributedvia various channels including through dog licence reminders,veterinary clinics etc.A quantity of biodegradable doggie bags available to the publicfree of charge.Surveillance carried out by the Litter Wardens whilst on patrol.Out of hours monitoring/enforcement by Environmentstaff/local Litter WardensPAL got involved in a local awareness initiative this year (April2011) in conjunction with Petmania and the Carers Associationannual dog walk.This years, Inter Community Litter Challenge between townsand villages, will be surveyed on one form of litter on each visit.Dog fouling will be one litter source that will be judged.It is recognised that dog fouling can only be addressed with thecooperation of local communities as a lot of the incidences occuroutside normal working hours and within the confines of estates,green areas etc. Local offender/s are known to local communities andincidences should be reported on the Council‟s freephone litter hotlinegiving specific details of the dog owners name & address, date, time,and location of offence.Chewing Gum CampaignGum on our streets is a major problem for local authorities and isextremely costly and difficult to remove. A Gum Litter Taskforce(GLT) was established in March 2006 based on an agreement reached28

etween the DoEHLG and the Chewing Gum Industry. This was thefirst attempt to assist local authorities in dealing with gum litterwhich, in Laois County Council in 2009, accounted for 94.7% of allfood-related items. The GLT ran pilot awareness campaigns in whichLaois County Council adopted their own campaign called “It TastesBetter Than It Looks”.Gum CampaignTrailer Cover InitiativeRoadside litter is identified as a growing problem in the County.Therefore a quantity of trailer nets are available on an ongoing basisto customers of the landfill at cost price. The aim of this initiative isto encourage transporters of waste to ensure that their waste issecure & sufficiently covered. Public awareness and the importance ofcovering waste was again highlighted as recent as April 2011.Green Eyes Photographic CompetitionThe purpose of the annual photographic competition, aimed at amateurphotographers, is to encourage participants to think twice about ourenvironment and find ways to reduce our day to day impact. Entriesare accepted from Primary School Students, Secondary SchoolStudents and Adults on a variety of different themes including Litter,Waste, Energy, Water and Climate Change.29

Eco Media ProjectTypically, students from Transition Year, CSPE and/or those who havea Film Society participate in this annual project, although it is open toany Secondary School group/class. In the project, students script,direct and film their own short movie on an environment related topic.The environment themes which they can choose from are litter andwaste, energy conservation, water conservation, travel or climatechange. (These themes mirror the themes in the Green Schoolsprogramme). Previously, anti litter cinema advertising campaigns havebeen conducted on foot of the high quality entries from the school.This year, the public decides who the winning entry will be and detailswill be announced on 31 May 2011.PAL (Portlaoise Against Litter)Formed in 2003 following the introduction of the IBAL (Irish BusinessAgainst Litter) league, PAL consists of members from various sectoralinterests in the town i.e. An Garda Siochana, Portlaoise VintnersAssocation, Portlaoise. This Committee continues to be proactive in anattempt to eradicate litter in the town of Portlaoise getting involvedin a number of local litter picks. The Committee were verydisappointed with the negative results announced in early January2011 for Portlaoise town in the IBAL results. Litter blackspots arebeing targeted and it is anticipated that a more positive result will beachieved during 2011. An Taisce have indicated that areas targettedwill include approach roads, shopping centres and takeaway outlets.PAL getting involved in community litter pick for Clean Up Laois WeekWith An Taisce’s Ambassador, Ms. Sarah McGovern.30

National Litter Pollution Monitoring SystemThis system was introduced in 1999 by the Department of theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government to monitor the levels oflitter pollution on a nationwide basis. This initiative is designed toenable local authorities to manage litter pollution in a more systematicand structured manner. Laois County Council complies fully with itsobligations under this system and, in 2010, the local Litter Wardenscarried out in excess of the minimum number of surveys required.The results are used to form pollution percentages for the NationalService Indicators for the County i.e. % seriously polluted, %moderately polluted etc.IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter)Portlaoise town is the only town in County Laois which competes in thenational “name & shame” anti-litter league between towns with apopulation in excess of 6,000. This competition strives at encouragingtowns to achieve “litter-free status” and has a high media profile,which in many cases inspires positive anti-litter measures on theground. Laois County Council will continue to work together with theTidy Towns Committee, PAL Committee, Community Groups, businessesand individuals in a combined effort to implement improved litterprevention and control measures in these areas.Banking ProtocolAn agreement was reached at the end of December 2006 with theDepartment and the Irish Banking Federation (IBF), acting on behalfof retail banking groups with ATM networks, on a Protocol to tacklethe problem of litter caused by ATM advice slips. The Protocol alsocontains a general commitment on behalf of bank branches to monitorcleanlinesss around their premises and to keep these areas free oflitter.The Protocol contains three agreed measures as follows:Changes in the software on ATM machines to help reduce thenumber of receipts generated. If a customer requires a receipt,they will have to go through a sequence of on-screen commands inorder to get one.Provision of an on-screen message reminding customers to disposeof their advice slips responsibly.31

Sign-up by the banks to a suite of good-housekeeping measures todeal with litter caused by ATM advice slips around their branches.A review of these arrangements is carried out regularly and to assistthe Department in monitoring the situation locally, the Litter Wardenscarry out surveys every year of all financial institutions in their areawith a full report submitted to the Department on their findings. Forthis year, 30 surveys will be carried out over the period March-May2011.Farm Plastic CollectionLaois County Council approved an application from the Irish Farm FilmProducers Group Ltd to run four Farm Plastic bring-centres in CountyLaois during July 2011. The IFFPG will be responsible for theoperation of the sites however Laois County Council will promote theevent through our website.6.0 LITTER MANAGEMENT6.1 OverviewLaois County Council is committed to enforcing all aspects of theLitter Pollution Act as Amended since its introduction in 1997. TheCouncil will continue to exercise their powers in a firm and fair mannerat all times taking cognisance of changes to legislation over the years.6.2 StrategiesLitter Management ServiceThere are three full-time Litter Wardens – one of which wasappointed in 2004 when the Waste Enforcement Team was introduced.The Litter Wardens will continue to provide an efficient and effectiveservice with administrative support to follow-up on paperwork, legalconsultations and complaints received.With An Garda Siochana‟s revised powers in 2008 (i.e. similar dutiesto Litter Wardens incl serving of litter fines), several meetings havebeen held with key personnel. Although public order offences willtake precedence, the Gardaí have confirmed that litter issues will be32

addressed when out on patrols especially during weekends and in theevenings. Assistance and support will also be available as much aspossible for anti-litter campaigns and visits to notorious litterblackspots.Litter FinesEnvironment will explore all avenues ensuring that the maximumnumber of fines issue where breaches of the Act occur. Attached is abreakdown of fines issued in 2010:YEAR FINES ISSUED PROSECUTIONS CONVICTIONS2010 376 92 25Direct ProsecutionsWhere large-scale illegal dumping occurs, Laois County Council feelsthat the on-the-spot fine as of €150 is not sufficient. In suchinstances, direct prosecutions should be brought against the allegedoffender/s however it is recognised that substantial evidence isrequired.Serving of NoticesEnvironment Section will continue the practice of serving Notices forvarious breaches of the Litter Pollution Act. In 2010, 19 Section 9(Warning Letters) were issued on landowners for failing to keep theirprivate land, visible from a public place, clean and litter-free. Also,staff will ensure that follow-up of these Notices upon the expirationof 21 days is strictly adhered to.“Name & Shame” CampaignEnvironment Section are unable to implement the “name & shame”policy following its adoption early in 2010 as notice from theDepartment indicated that this practice was in breach of the DataProtection Act 1988-2003. This was a huge set-back to this Sectionand our disappointment was relayed to the Department who areinvestigating this matter further.33

LITTER MANAGEMENT SERVICEJohn GingLitter WardenPortlaoise & SurroundsContact: 087-7988312John RogersLitter WardenWestern AreaContact: 087-9473159Emily Doyle, Litter WardenEastern AreaContact: 087-233911634

Abandoned VehiclesAbandoning a vehicle in a public place is an offence under Section 71of the Waste Management Act 1996 As Amended. Penalties havebeen imposed on the registered owners including removal/storagecosts.The introduction of the End-Of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulations whichcame into effect on 1st January 2007 has alleviated the problemsomewhat. These regulations ensure that all disused/old cars aredepolluted and dismantled in a manner that doesn‟t pose a threat toour environment or to human health. Everyone from themanufacturer, car dismantlers to the owner are held accountable withnew stringent environmental stardards imposed for the collection,storage and their treatment. “Certificates of Destruction” issue andare logged on a national database.The authorised treatment facilities (ATF‟s) and their locations inCounty Laois are as follows:NAME151 ES Metals(A1 Metals)Corcorans AutoBody Works LtdWhelan‟s AutoDismantlersMartin ByrneMunnelly Bros.CONTACT NAME& ADDRESSAcragar,Mountmellick,Co. LaoisAnn & Gerry Corcoran,Clonminam Ind Est.,Portlaoise,Co. Laois.David Whelan,Ballydavis,Portlaoise,Co. Laois.Martin ByrneKillone,Stradbally,Co. Laois.Ger Munnelly,Arles,Ballickmoyler,Co. Laois.PERMIT NO.PHONE NO/EMAIL ADDRESSATF WMP 007E 057-8624119/8624826ATF WMP 029B 057-8621151/61118ATF WMP 008D 057-8646663ATF WMP 002B 057-8646680ATF WMP 140 087-257574135

Major EventsMajor events such as concerts, festivals, circuses & local sportingevents can generate a lot of litter. The nature of the litter is usuallycasual and packaging related. The promoters or organisers of majorevents are required to ensure that they have adequate litter controlmeasures in place at the venue and in the surrounding vicinity before,during and after the event. In addition, the element of providingrecycling bins is also important as is details of the authorised wastecollector and final destination for the waste i.e. authorised landfill.Some larger events require an “Event Licence” from the localauthority and, under the circumstances, contact is normally made wellin advance of the event. In this instance and as outlined in Section 17of the Act, the event organisers will be obliged to submit acomprehensive Litter Management Plan to prevent and control litterto a minimum and to cater for the crowd densities. The LitterWardens will patrol events to ensure compliance with the Licence.Litter Management Measures – Electric Picnic36

Unauthorised SignageUnauthorised signage detracts from an area and therefore the LitterWardens will pursue such signs under Section 19 of the Act in theanticipation of keeping signage to a minimum. Written permission inthe form of a “Sign License” must be obtained from PlanningDepartment if placing posters/signs on public property. Due to theeconomic downturn, it is the policy of this Section to advise “firsttimeoffenders” in writing rather than issuing an on-the-spot fine.Recurring offences are subject to a fine.Illegal dumping – Coillte/OPWCoillte owns and manages over 16,000 hectares in Co. Laois. Access tothe forests is a considerable asset to the public, but exposes Coillteto indiscriminate dumping - a problem which appears to be increasinglyprevalent.Laois County Council acknowledges the ongoing efforts of Coillte intackling the problem of dumping on their land. The revised Planproposes to continue active collaboration between Coillte and LaoisCounty Council, in monitoring and surveillance of locations and jointefforts in publicity, awareness and other anti-litter measures.Other public bodies such as the Office of Public Works (OPW) alsohave in their ownership large tracts of land and again Environment37

Section will resolve, through negotiations with this organisation, anyreported illegal dumping incidences.Waterways Ireland are another company who are experiencing ongoingindiscriminate dumping spoiling the canals and watercourses.7. RECYCLING & RECOVERY7.1 OverviewLaois County Council adopted the Waste Management Plan for theMidlands Region in 2005 which was reviewed earlier this year. Inaccordance with national and EU policy, the Plan focuses on wasteprevention and minimisation measures. In order to meet the targetsof the Plan, the Council has significantly expanded its services.7.2 StrategiesRecycling CentresLaois County Council has invested heavily in the Recycling Programme.Portlaoise Recycling Centre, based on the same site as Kyletaleshalandfill, Portlaoise accepts a wide range of recyclables for a minimumgate entry fee of €3.00 (exact change required). A recycling facilityis also available to the public in Portarlington and, although Councilowned, it is privately run. Both sites accept electrical appliances freeof charge. See Appendix below setting out the broad range ofmaterials currently accepted at Portlaoise Recycling Centre.Bring BanksInitially there were 16 listed bring bank centres in the County. Thisnumber has increased significantly over the years with 46 suchrecyclable facilities provided for local communities. These sites areregularly monitored by the Litter Wardens in the area whilst theContractor who empties the bring banks cleans the site everyfortnight. As stated on the sign at the site, members of the publicshould bring their recyclables home if banks full and should not leaveother materials at the site. However, these bring banks are subjectto regular abuse. See Appendix II affixed at back of Plan showingdetails of the present locations of the Bring Banks.38

Bring Bank Facility properly maintainedImproper use of Bring Bank FacilityHousehold hazardous wasteThe Recycling Centres at Kyletalesha and Portarlington provide a fullyoperational recycling area for household hazardous waste. From time totime, hazardous waste collections are carried out by a mobile unit callingto a particular location bringing the service closer to the community.39

APPENDIX 1Contact Telephone Nos.Confidential Freephone Litter Hotline - 1800 323230Environment Section – (057) 8674322John Ging, Enforcement Officer (Litter Warden) - (087) 7988312John Rogers, Enforcement Officer (Litter Warden) (087) 9473159Emily Doyle, Enforcement Officer (Litter Warden) - (087) 2339116Ann-Marie Kelly, Environmental Awareness Officer – (087) 2492293Roads Section – (057) 866413540

APPENDIX IIBring Bank SitesTown Site Glass Aluminum TextilesCansAbbeyleix Statoil (1100lt) 1 (1100lt) 1Arles Community Centre 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Attanagh Post Office 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Ballacolla Community Centre 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Ballaghmore Opposite Shop 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Ballinakill Parochial Hall 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Ballyadams Beside car-park 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Ballybrittas Statoil Garage 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Ballyfin Church car-park 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Ballylinan St. Anne’s Hall 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Ballyroan Community Centre 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Borris in Ossory Carpark, Leix County Hotel 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt) 1Camross Entrance to GAA Pitch 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Castletown Girls School 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Clonaslee Community Centre 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt) 1Clough Pub car-park 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Coolrain Adjacent Post Box 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Cullohill Community Centre 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Durrow Statoil 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Emo Entrance to Emo Court 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Errill Tidy Towns Site 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Killenard School 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Killeshin 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Luggacurrran Community Centre 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Mountmellick Statoil Garage, Portlaoise Road 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Mountrath Council Car Park 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt) 1Newtown Carpark 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Pike Of Rushall Lay-by Area 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Portarlington Supervalu 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Portlaoise Downey’s Centra, Dublin Road 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Portlaoise Brackens Gala Stores, Stradbally 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)RoadPortlaoise Parkside Shopping Centre, 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Abbeyleix RoadPortlaoise Kilminchy Court carpark, 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)KilminchyPortlaoise Car park at County Hall 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt) 1Raheen Beside school 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)41

Rathdowney Supervalu 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt) 1Rosenallis Community Centre 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Shanahoe Graveyard 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Spink Community Centre 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)St. Abbans Sports Centre 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Stradbally Market Square 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)The Swan Medical Centre 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)Timahoe Community Centre 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Vicarstown Community Hall 4 (1100lt) 1 (1100lt)Wolfhill Car-park opposite church 4 (240lt) 1 (240lt)42

APPENDIX IIIStreet Sweeping ScheduleWESTERN AREA Population (CSO) Street Cleaning Litter Bins Street SweepingErrill 158 Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyRathdowney 1212 Weekly Three times per week Once every 2 MonthsBorris in Ossory 488 Every 2 Months Weekly QuarterlyCastletown 314 Every 2 Months Weekly QuarterlyMountrath 1435 Weekly Three times per week Once every 2 MonthsAbbeyleix 1568 Weekly Three times per week Once every 2 MonthsBallinakill 430 Every 2 Months Weekly QuarterlyDurrow 811 Fortnightly Two times per week Once every 2 MonthsClogh Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyBallacolla 127 Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyShanahoe Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyRaheen Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyAttanagh Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyCullohill Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyCamross Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyCoolrain Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyCENTRAL AREA Street Cleaning Litter Bins Street Sweeping6 days per week (NoPortlaoise 14613 Tuesdays) 6 days per week (No Tuesdays) WeeklyMountmellick 4069 Twice Weekly Three times per week Once per FortnightBallyroan 189 Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyRosenallis Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyClonalsee 501 Every 2 Months Weekly QuarterlyEASTERN AREA Street Cleaning Litter Bins Street SweepingPortarlington 4395 Twice Weekly Two times per week Once per FortnightStradbally 1056 Weekly Three times per week Once every 2 MonthsBallylynan 754 Fortnightly Two Times per week Once every 2 MonthsEmo 225 Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyBallybrittas Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyKillenard Quarterly Fortnightly Quarterly43

Timahoe Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyVicarstown Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyGraiguecullen 2520 Twice Weekly Three times per week Once per FortnightSwan Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyArles Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyBallickmoyler Quarterly Fortnightly QuarterlyNewtown 222 Quarterly Fortnightly Quarterly44