SHOCKING: Laois Tidy Towns volunteers discover site of mass illegal dumping

Hard working volunteers for Clean Up Laois Week have discovered a shocking site of mass illegal dumping in Mountmellick.

An estimated over 100 black refuse bags filled with rubbish were found in the ditch beside the Portarlington approach road into Mountmellick.

The discovery was made on Saturday, April 6 by a group that include Mountmellick Tidy Towns chairperson Kitty Creighton, and local teenagers carrying out community work to attain their Gaisce President's Award medals.

Kitty spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“We are absolutely shocked and disgusted. It’s an ocean. 

“There is a stream there that flows to the Triogue and the Barrow rivers. We have seen this in the past few years and had it cleaned up, but this is the worst. It’s so disheartening,” she said.

Mountmellick Tidy Towns Group say that the find was too big for the volunteers to clear.

They have instead reported it to Laois County Council's Environment staff.

Kitty thanked all the volunteers who gave an extra hand for Clean Up Laois Week which ran from April 1 to 5, as well as those who work weekly to tidy up Mountmellick. 

“The frustrating thing is much of what we clear are bottles and cans that can be recycled. And dog poo, especially on the river walk. We are hoping things will change when the CCTV dumping cameras are back. 

“Right now we are trying to have the town looking ready for the All Ireland Drama Festival starting on April 18. If everyone can spend five minutes a day cleaning outside their own house and business that will make a big difference,” she said.

The volunteer group reported the dumping incident also on their social media.

"Not even storm Kathleen stopped Kitty, Paul, Tom & some of our Teen group yesterday. They did some cleaning along Debbicot & the Portarlington road.

"You can imagine their disgust & disappointment in people when they came across approximately 100 bags dumped in a ditch across from two housing estates, & near the welcome to Mountmellick sign. (nice welcome!)," the group noted.

"Naturally enough they didn't move them as the dumping has been reported to Laois County Council. They did however get two bags of litter from both roads. Well done everyone," the group say on their social media page.

The bags of litter gathered from the Portarlington approach road by Mountmellick Tidy Towns.

Volunteers worked throughout Laois to collect roadside rubbish in the printed blue bags. Bord na Móna Recycling will collect up the bags left for them on roadsides from April 8 to 15.

Report any litter offences, unauthorised waste collectors, or fly tipping on the Laois confidential freephone litter hotline 1800 32 32 30.