Laois 'whole countryside being polluted' as CCTV cameras still blacked out

Levels of dumping in Laois shot up yet again in 2022, with blame partly laid on the delay to pass legislation allowing CCTV camera footage in Garda investigations.

The weight of illegally dumped rubbish that was collected up from Laois roadsides, bogs and woodlands reached a staggering 649 tonnes in 2022.

That compares to 367 tonnes in 2019, 238 in 2020 during pandemic travel restrictions, rising to 530 tonnes in 2021.

Director of Services Simon Walton said the lack of legislation is causing the problem to worsen.

"That tells you in what direction illegal dumping is going. It's partly exacerbated as we are still waiting for state legislation to deploy CCTV cameras," he said.

Meanwhile the council received 824 complaints about waste management, litter and environmental pollution in 2022.

It issued 47 litter fines during the year. Three of them for dog fouling, and the other 44 for littering.

Almost 90 homeless Laois families and single people in emergency accommodation

Cllr Willie Aird has urged the council to do better in 2023.

"Only 47 litter fines. Is there anything we can do to enhance that? Our whole countryside is being polluted. Is there anything we can do in 2023?" he asked. 

The figures were given at the January 2023 meeting of Laois County Council.