Illegal dumping in Laois 'nothing short of a scandal'

A Laois councillor has urged people to be vigilant and to report illegal dumping in Laois. 

Cllr PJ Kelly made the comments after a couch and mattress were dumped in Jamestown and Garryvacum in Laois. 

Cllr Kelly took to social media and said the illegal dumping was nothing short of a scandal. 

“These are items of a household or two that were randomly dumped in locations around the Jamestown (couch) and Garryvacum area of Killenard (mattress),” he said. 

“I will make sure these are disposed of properly but to say that people would dump these without a worry or care in our local areas is nothing short of a scandal,” said Cllr Kelly. 

He said there was a "shocking" amount of rubbish being dumped on roadsides and in quite areas. Cllr Kelly doesn't believe the issue is going to stop unless serious action is taken against the culprits. 

"Until then you are still going to have this issue of dumping," he said. 

Aside from the couch and mattress, Cllr Kelly said he was aware of other rubbish discarded elsewhere in the area that he planned to gather up and bring to the dump. 

On average, he estimated that he receives a couple of calls every week from people in relation to illegal dumping. 

"I got maybe four calls over the last four days," he explained. 

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“Please be vigilant everyone and report illegal dumping,” Cllr Kelly added.

Cllr Kelly said he now plans to bring the rubbish to the dump at his own expense.