Minutes:
Mr Vincent Dwyer, Head of Finance, Water, Environment, Climate Action and Emergency Services outlined that the public consultation process in respect of the draft bye laws had taken place during the summer of 2021. The period prescribed for receipt of submissions has elapsed and no submissions have been received.
Mr Dwyer outlined that the owner, occupier, or person in charge of a mobile outlet must provide and maintain adequate litter bins in order to prevent the creation of litter at, or in the vicinity, of their outlet while it is in operation. They ensure that any litter caused by the operation of the outlet is removed from the vicinity within a reasonable distance not exceeding a distance of 100 metres from the location of the outlet and comply with conditions in relation to the location and operation of the outlet as the local authority deems necessary for the prevention or removal of litter at or in the vicinity of the outlet.
Mr Dwyer said the byelaws within County Leitrim will come into force on 11th October 2021 and the existing byelaws will be revoked from 10th October 2021.
Councillor Mary Bohan queried if the byelaws could facilitate the implementation of CCTV cameras to combat litter. Councillor Bohan paid tribute to the community volunteers who carry out local clean-ups, and she said people creating the problem need to take responsibility for their actions.
Councillor Brendan Barry supported the bye laws and thanked Leitrim County Council for their work on this issue. Councillor Barry referred to the high costs on businesses owners to comply with waste management and he said there should be consequences for people who are dumping.
Councillor Barry referred to rubbish coming from fast food outlets and asked that measures be considered to link the packaging from such outlets to the person placing an order, i.e., telephone numbers/car registration printed on packaging from food outlets.
Councillor Des Guckian supported the byelaws and agreed that CCTV is a good idea at certain key locations.
Councillor Sean McGowan supported the introduction of the byelaws. Councillor Sean McGowan said over the summer the bins at Dromod Harbour were collected on a Wednesday and this is not enough during peak periods. This area is a very popular tourist destination, and the overflowing bins were unsightly and attracted a lot of negative comments. Councillor Sean McGowan proposed that the bins be emptied on a Monday and Friday during summer peak periods to avoid this problem.
Councillor Caillian Ellis said landowners should not have to bear the costs of getting rubbish, caused by fly tipping, cleared from their property and he asked if the Council could help in this regard.
Councillor Enda McGloin sought clarification on the obligations of the owner of the property under the byelaws. He also queried if the Council is checking households to see if they are registered with a waste collector or disposing of their waste correctly.
Councillor Padraig Fallon supported the comments in relation to the use of CCTV, and he welcomed the section in the bye laws in relation to the occupier of fast-food / takeaway premises selling food for consumption off the premises.
Councillor Padraig Fallon said people who bring their household waste to waste facilities should not be forced to register with a waste collection service provider. People who bring their waste to these facilities get a receipt as proof that they have disposed of their waste in a responsible manner.
Mr Vincent Dwyer outlined that there are privacy issues around the use of CCTV, these issues are being worked out nationally and the use of CCTV will be considered again.
The section in the byelaws in relation to business owners is designed to catch all who are operating the businesses and catch the person who is responsible.
Mr Dwyer said the proposal in relation to the fast-food outlets printing customer information on fast food packaging has been discussed by the SPC and it was felt it would be difficult to ensure compliance and there could be GDPR and privacy issues arising.
Mr Dwyer said bins are being put in place for small bona fide litter items. The bins have a small aperture so as to avoid being subject to abuse.
Mr Dwyer said the dumping of waste on land is mainly a waste management issue and with ownership of property comes responsibility. Mr Dwyer said checks on household registration with service providers, and receipts from waste facilities, have been suspended due to Covid-19 but will be reinstated as soon as possible.
Councillor Brendan Barry acknowledged that it is difficult to police fast food outlet waste. He said the dates and times could be printed on fast food packaging which could, in turn, be cross referenced with CCTV footage from fast food premises and this could be used to identify persistent litterers.
Mr Dwyer said the collection of waste from Dromod Harbour during peak times will be reviewed for next year.
Councillor Padraig Fallon proposed that bins at Corry Strand should be put in place.
On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Mary Bohan
SECONDED by Cllr. Enda McGloin
It was AGREED to adopt byelaws to prevent the creation and control litter within County Leitrim pursuant to Section 57(1) and (2) of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 and Part 19 of the Local Government Act 2001 and Local Government Act, 2001 (Byelaws) Regulations 2006.