Litter Management Plan

The people of Clonakilty and Clonakilty Town Council are proud of the appearance of the town and share in the satisfaction that results from success in the various Tidy Towns Competitions.

It is easy to believe that there is no litter problem in the town but regrettably this is not the case. Clonakilty’s reputation as a litter free town is due to a small number of people who either as part of their jobs or voluntarily pick up litter created by others. The Council’s employees, Community Employment Scheme workers, Tidy Town’s Committee Members and the School Litter Patrol ensure that the streets are kept free of litter. The thrust of this plan is to ensure that this approach is combined with awareness among the general population and the business community of their responsibilities with regard to litter.

The objectives of the Plan are:

1. To increase public awareness of the litter problem.
2. To promote recycling and recovery.
3. To work in partnership with the local community, businesses and schools to eliminate litter.
4. To enforce the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997.
5. To reduce the amounts of litter being deposited on the streets.
6. To deal effectively and promptly with any litter which does arise.

Anti-Litter Programme

The following programme has been developed by Clonakilty Town Council for the implementation of the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997.

1. Assignment of powers and functions of Litter Warden to Traffic warden
2. Prosecution of all offenders
3. Co-operation with Gardai in identifying offenders and prosecution.
4. Provision of additional litter bins
5. Presentations on litter to schools
6. Organisation of Poster Competition for Schools
7. Provide information to all households, businesses and schools on their responsibilities under the Litter Pollution Act.

 

Casual Littering

This arises as a result of cigarettes, chewing gum, tins, bottles, food wrappers being discarded

The Council will:

1. Enforce the provisions of the Litter Act and prosecute offenders
2. Provide additional Litter Bins
3. Ensure bins are emptied regularly
4. Encourage local communities to:
   • Report Littering.
   • Use LitterBins.
   • Take home litter if no bin is available.
   • Encourage children not to cause litter.

Presentation of Refuse

Refuse presented for collection can be subject to attack by animals or birds or vandalism if it is left overnight or poorly presented. Householders and business owners should:

• Present refuse in properly closed bins.
• Present refuse on the day of collection only.
• Remove uncollected refuse.
• Keep the area outside houses and business premises clean.

 

Dog Fouling

Legislation on dog fouling will be strictly enforced. Dog owners will be responsible for cleaning up after their dogs and must ensure that the dogs are kept under control.

Fast Food Outlets

These premises give rise to significant amounts of litter directly outside and also for some distance along the street.
Owners will be required to ensure that measures are put in place to minimise litter in the vicinity of their premises. The provisions of the Litter Pollution Act will be strictly enforced where littering does occur.

Advertising

Litter can be caused by unauthorised posters and an increasing incidence of leaflets, handouts and flyers.

The Council does not allow the placement of posters on telegraph poles or public lighting standards and will continue to remove unauthorised advertising from these locations as well as other temporarily erected signs.

It is an offence to place flyers on car windscreens and offenders will be prosecuted.

Abuse of Litter Bins

Litterbins are occasionally being used to deposit household refuse, if the offenders can be identified prosecutions will take place. The Council will examine the possibility of replacing the existing bins and providing the existing bins and providing additional bins at new locations.

Special Events

Litter can arise when large numbers of people gather to events such as matches and festivals. The Council will advise the organisers of such events on litter control and arrange for the provision of temporary litterbins where possible. Where it is necessary for the Council to clean up after an event the cost will be recouped from the promoters.

Abandoned Cars

Clonakilty Town Council will use the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act and the Road Traffic Acts to prosecute the owners of abandoned vehicles. Such vehicles will be removed and disposed of in an appropriate manner.

Illegal Dumping

Where illegal dumping takes place the Council will arrange for an immediate clean up of the area. If those responsible can be identified, prosecutions will take place. Members of the public and the business community will be advised to report instances of illegal dumping and assist in identifying offenders.

The Litter Pollution Act, 1997

The Litter Pollution Act, 1997 grants additional powers to Local Authorities which enables them to initiate prosecutions for the following offences:

• Depositing a substance or object so as to create litter in a public place or litter that is visible to any extent from a public place.
• Deposit for collection by or on behalf of a local authority a substance, material or thing.  Loading, transporting, unloading or otherwise handling or processing anything. Carrying on a business, trade, or activity that creates or tends to create litter in a public place or any place that is visible to any extent from a public place.
• Placing municipal waste into or near a litter receptacle.
• Failing to take measures in using a vehicle to transport goods or material to prevent the creation of litter on a public road or in a public place
• Failing to keep a public place free of litter.
• Failing to keep land free of litter that is visible to any extent from a public place.
• Failing to keep a footpath or margin adjoining a public road free of litter.
• Removing litter from a footpath or margin onto a road.
• Failing to provide and maintain adequate litter receptacles to prevent the creation of litter in the vicinity of a mobile outlet.
• Failing to remove litter caused by the operation of a mobile outlet in the vicinity of a mobile outlet.
• Exhibiting an advertisement or other article or causing defacement of a structure, door, gate, window, tree, pole or other place.
• Placing advertising on a mechanically propelled vehicle.
• Distributing advertising material contrary to a byelaw
• Failing to remove faeces deposited by a dog