Roadside litter everywhere..

[dunno]

Old style summary justice might be the idea. No I don't mean hanging litterers in public, catch a few and slap exemplary fines on them, change the laws a bit first as that dumper near Baltinglass didn't pay too much, I recall. It might help change attitudes to both casual littering and dumping.

Given the shortage of money, I'm pretty sure local authorities are planning something like that. The fines generate some money, and not having to clean up after pigs saves money for the ratepayers.

[Schuhart]

Old style summary justice might be the idea. No I don't mean hanging litterers in public, catch a few and slap exemplary fines on them, change the laws a bit first as that dumper near Baltinglass didn't pay too much, I recall. It might help change attitudes to both casual littering and dumping.

It would be helped by big fines - I just feel that what would do a lot more is the certainty of being caught.

Assuming the dumping to be done by people not paying for collection, is that a possible route for detection? Has the State the right to ask someone how they are disposing of their refuse if they have paid no collection fee to anyone? I'm thinking a little bit like the TV Licence - not an identical issue, obviously, but it has in common that need to assume that the householder can be asked to produce a licence on demand.

I simply don't know - does anything like this exist at present? Surely its obvious if someone cannot demonstrate that they safely disposed of their waste they can be done?

[pinemartin]

In the absence of people with a civil responsibility , we have to think of other ways of making them stop dumping( both the casual discarding of small items and fly tipping. We need a short period of education followed by heavy fines and confiscation of vehicles involved in the dumping. People need to take a big fine to realise that this behaviour is not acceptable( you have to pay for your anti social behaviour). This would also create employment and generate revenue in the short term. The green party again should be hounded about their lack of impact in this arena.

[Schuhart]

The green party again should be hounded about their lack of impact in this arena.

In fairness, the Green Party are more often hounded for pointing out the environmental impact of overbuilding in the countryside. I don't think the cultural/policy issue can be seen in isolation. Yes, obviously law breakers should be caught. But its not as if there's much commitment to preserving the countryside in general. I mean, the IFA is in a state of denial about pollution relating to agriculture. Small towns and one-offs equally spew a lot of nasty stuff out there.

In that situation, having a strictly enforced policy on illegal dumping is a bit like the cliched handing out of speeding tickets at the Indy 500. There's very little coherence in a policy saying 'yes, but this particular piece of filth produced by that person there is unacceptable' and then when someone points to (say) agricultural pollution saying 'oh, you just want the countryside for tourists'.

[pinemartin]

I see what you are saying but something has to be done about people littering. If people see that they can no longer get away lightly then at least some people will stop and the environment does improve. This is a simple solution that does not take long to implement. It also sends out the message that we are getting serious. The greens of course are not the only party that have not stood up to the plate but I would have expected more from them on this issue.

[charley]

Highland Radio 650,000 euro to clean up illegal dumping – 1,600 collected in fines

just thought this was relevant

[bob3344]

I mean, the mindset of these folk is incredible. I think it particularly when you see abandoned furnature. Why go to all the trouble of skullduggery in the night, when you'd have that three piece suite broken up and in your car boot in about half and hour and disposed it legitimately at the recycling centre for the price of a bin tag? I think its not even an affordability question - its just a gobber question (and I reckon we probably agree on that).

its a traveller question - one of their favourite money makers is to drive around looking for houses with skip bags outside - then they call in & offer to get rid of the bag on the cheap.

Its all profit cos the bag isn't going to a dump.

[Eye of Angkor]

my hair brained solution:

every product has a bar code. make that bar code unique to that individual product by adding another layer of info.
everything must be bought on card, debit or credit, for tracking.

then when the wrapper turns up in a hedge you get fined.
you own the wrapper and are responsible for it's proper disposal even down to choosing a licenced waste operator.
you can plead your case in court if wronged and risk doubling the fine if dismissed.

we need big brother for this.

Good idea - and couple it with cleaning duty instead of fines.