Dáil debates

Thursday, 7 March 2024

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Illegal Dumping

10:50 am

Photo of Ossian SmythOssian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

-----to catch those carrying out illegal dumping. In the case of commercial dumping, there are stronger powers for local authorities, in that they can use drones and bodycams. Many of those involved in this activity are dangerous criminals and it is difficult for local authority staff to approach them directly or gather the evidence. The dumping may be going on behind high fences. That is why drones are required. It is a serious offence.

There is an extended producer responsibility, EPR, scheme for tyres. There is a take-back scheme for them. That has been extended beyond car tyres to all types of tyres. Those types of schemes, particularly those that apply to cars, are leading to a very high rate of take-back compared with the days in the 1980s when one would see cars dumped in fields. I want to see an extended producer responsibility scheme for mattresses, which comprise a large part of the materials we see dumped in fields. We know the EPR schemes are very effective.

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