Gift hamper and hero clothing dumped on Laois road

The items dumped on the Ridge Road near Portlaoise. Photo: Leinster Express

placeholder image — The items dumped on the Ridge Road near Portlaoise. Photo: Leinster Express

An empty gift hamper and a pile of waste including a Marvel blanket hoodie have been recently dumped on a road leading to the Laois recycling centre.

The dumped litter is strewn either side of the Ridge Road, within a few kilometres of the Kyletalesha Landfill.

A local person alerted the Leinster Express to the presence of the large hamper basket on Tuesday, December 5, expressing concern that it might have been stolen.

The pile of waste is largely recyclable plastic, including what appears to be a paddling pool.

The penalty for dumping litter goes from an on-the-spot fine of €150 up to a maximum fine of €3,000 in court. Laois County Council state that it is also a criminal offence to give waste to a bogus collector.

The council has issued 66 litter fines so far in 2023, in latest figures given up to the end of October, an average of 6.6 fines per month.

This year so far they received a total of 892 environmental complaints, 451 about waste management and enforcement, 310 about litter, 50 about water, 36 about air, 34 about noise and 11 about waste infrastructure.

Witnesses to illegal dumping in action can report it to the Laois litter hotline on 1800 32 32 30.