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Litter Management

Litter Management Plan

Each Local Authority is required to develop and implement a Litter Management Plan. The current plan is for the period 2010 – 2012,Litter Management Plan 2010-2012 

The plan sets out objectives and targets for litter management for the three year period 2010-2012.

Litter Awareness

Litter awareness is raised through radio campaigns, billboard advertising, promotional merchandise etc. A Lo-Call number to report litter is also available and publicised: 1890 320 005.

To raise awareness of litter the following grant is available:

Anti Litter

This grant is available to raise public awareness and promote anti-litter and anti-graffiti activity at local level.

The maximum grant allowed for any one project may be up to 70% of the project costs, with the balance being met by way of local contributions.

Gum Litter Task Force

This is aimed to promote a behaviour change among gum droppers through local campaigns.

Prevention & Control

The Council have a programme for street cleaning in towns and villages throughout the county. Frequency of street cleaning ranges from daily to quarterly depending on town size.

Other Litter control measures undertaken by the Council include:

  • the provision and emptying of street litter bins
  • litter picking
  • removal of illegally dumped/fly-tipped waste

Enforcement

 

Fly-tipping/Dumping occurs in small volumes and cause a significant threat to public health and the environment. The waste materials include bags of domestic waste, washing machines, furniture, fridges and asbestos etc.

All waste must be given to a licenced Waste Collector. A person who’s waste is fly-tipped is legally responsible for this waste.

 

What can you do to make sure your rubbish doesn't end up getting fly tipped/dumped?

  • Ensure the person removing your waste has a Waste Collection Permit. Ask to see a copy of their Waste Collection Permit. If you are unsure contact the Environment Section at 044-933 2168.
  • If you are using the services of builders, plumbers or electricians ask them where they will be disposing of your waste.
  • Reduce the amount of waste you produce, and reuse and recycle as much as possible.
  • Ensure the waste you produce is kept secure until it's collected.
  • It is best practice to keep a note of the name of your waste collector, telephone number and vehicle registration number so you can pass this on to the enforcing authorities if necessary.

If you see someone fly-tipping, try to take note of:

  • When and where it is happening
  • Vehicle registration
  • Description of the vehicle - colour, make and model. Is there anything special about it? Does it have an insignia or contact numbers?
  • What sort of rubbish is being dumped?
  • Report the details to Westmeath County Council Environment Section on Lo-Call 1890 320 005
  • To report large scale illegal dumping, you can also contact the EPA.

Waste Shipments out of Ireland 

Some waste in Ireland must be sent overseas for recovery and disposal. Any waste shipments of this type must be notified to the National TransFrontier Shipments (TFS) Office

Shipment of Hazardous Waste

The Council track the transportation of hazardous waste from its source to the waste management facility to be used for disposal or recovery by means of a C1 Form (Mark- create link to C1Form). This ensures that these dangerous materials are managed safely and end up at a properly authorised waste facility.

Moving hazardous waste contrary to these requirements is an offence. 

Information on C1 Form 

A consignment note or “C1 form” is required to authorise the movement of hazardous waste within Ireland. The C1 form is issued by the local authority where the waste originated. The form contains three parts to be completed by the consignor, carrier and consignee.

The three-part form constitutes a checklist to trace the waste consignment from source to destination, and to verify that the consignment has been moved and handled at all times in accordance with the Waste Management (Movement of Hazardous Waste) Regulations, 1998.

Exceptions and Exemptions

Although the law requires most movements of hazardous wastes to be subject to C1 forms, there are some exceptions. These are set out in the Waste Management (Movement of Hazardous Waste) Regulations which have been supplemented by a part of the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2001
The result is that the following exemptions now apply in relation to C1 forms:
• Authorised movements of hazardous wastes, when such materials are to be exported from Ireland to other countries;
• The transfer of waste oil;
• Hazardous waste collected from either bring centres or by segregated collection services provided to members of the public.

A further exception from using a C1 form relates to the movement of end of life vehicles.

Obtaining a C1 form

The C1 form is obtained from the local authority where the hazardous waste originated. Each form is uniquely numbered. It is made up of five differently coloured identical pages, with each page being sub-divided into three parts (A, B & C). A carboning system ensures that entries made on the uppermost page are reproduced on the other pages.

There is a charge of €10.00 per C1 form or a book of 25 forms cost €250.00. 
To request a C1 form, contact Environment Section.

Completing a C1 form
The C1 form must be completed in the manner set out in the legislation.
In summary, the waste producer must complete Part A of all five copies of the form before a load of hazardous waste is given to a carrier.

On accepting the consignment, the carrier then completes Part B on the five copies, and this is witnessed by the producer.

The producer keeps a copy of the completed form and the carrier retains the remaining four copies.

The carrier must keep the four copies of the C1 form with the hazardous waste while it is in transit.

When the waste arrives at its destination, the disposer or recoverer - termed the "consignee" in the legislation - verifies if the load is acceptable and then completes Part C on the four copies.

One copy of the form is then given to the carrier and the consignee keeps a copy. The other two copies are sent to the local authority where the waste originated and to the local authority responsible for the consignee.

The Waste Management (Movement of Hazardous Waste) Regulations also set down procedures which apply where a load is transported by the waste producer rather than by a third party waste carrier.

Provision has also been made in the event that the waste is rejected by the consignee as being unsuitable. Each party to a transaction of hazardous waste must retain copies of the C1 form. Waste producers and collectors need to keep copies of the completed forms for at least five years.

As well as keeping records of hazardous waste movements, producers of this type of waste are required by the Waste Management (Movement of Hazardous Waste) Regulations to ensure that they obtain documentary evidence that each consignment has in fact reached its destination. Hence there is a duty on them to make relevant enquiries if nothing has been heard about the shipment. However, usually the waste haulier or consignee will be in contact, confirming that the waste has reached its destination.

This documentary proof also needs to be retained for five years. In all cases, the legislation mandates that any requirements on the labelling of hazardous waste consignments must be followed. Local authorities and the EPA may request to see completed C1 forms to ensure that hazardous waste has been dealt with properly.

The Waste Management (Movement of Hazardous Waste) Regulations also allow a local authority or the EPA to require a producer, carrier or consignee of hazardous waste to contribute to any regulatory costs incurred. This could include paying for site visits and having any waste chemically analysed.
 
Finally, the Waste Management (Hazardous Waste) Regulations 1998 require that no asbestos fibres or dust is emitted by any person involved in the transportation of asbestos wastes.*

Burning of Waste:

The burning of waste is illegal and this includes:

  • Backyard Burning - this is where householders and businesses burn their wastes either on the ground, in a barrel or a mini waste burner/furnace.
  • Burning of hedge cuttings -  this is only allowed in rural areas in certain circumstances and is subject to a permit being granted. 
  • Bonfires  
  •  Householders and Businesses should note that all unauthorised burning of waste is illegal and can cause serious danger to health.

Waste may not be disposed of by burning within your house or in your garden. The use of waste burners is illegal. Incidents of burning of waste will be investigated by the Waste Enforcement Team and can lead to prosecution. 


Litter Fines

Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence which can be subject to an "on the spot fine" of €150 and maximum fine of €3,000 on conviction in the District Court. A person convicted of a litter offence may be required by the Court to pay the Council's costs and expenses in investigating the offence and in bringing the prosecution.

Dog Fouling

Dog owners must remove their pets' waste from public places and dispose of it in a proper manner. This obligation applies to the following places:

  • Public roads and footpaths
  • Areas around shopping centres 
  • School and sport grounds 
  • Beaches 
  • The immediate area surrounding another persons house 
  • Posters and signs

Unauthorised signage

The law forbids the putting up of signs/posters on poles or on other structures in public places unless you have written permission of the owner of the pole or other structure in advance of putting up the posters/signs.

Westmeath Co. Co. also requests prior notification of any temporary signage to be erected.

Abandoned Cars

Abandoned vehicles in a public place are an offence.

If a vehicle is abandoned in a public place, the council places an abandoned vehicles notice on it. The owner has seven days in which to remove it. If it is not removed within seven days, the council makes arrangements to have it removed.

Roadside Sale of Cars

Any vehicle found offered for sale on the public roadside will be affixed with a sticker instructing its removal within 24 hours. If the vehicle is not removed, or if the same vehicle is found offered for sale on the public roadside at any time in the future, it will be removed by the County Council and stored for a maximum of six weeks, before being disposed of.

Persons seeking to reclaim the vehicle must pay the costs of removal and storage of the vehicle in full before the impounded vehicle can be released.
Private Property

The owner or occupier of property which can be seen from a public place is obliged to keep it free of litter. Basically any outdoor area on your property that is visible from a public place must be kept free of litter. Where litter has accumulated on property for whatever reason and the litter is visible from a public place, the local authority can issue a notice to the owner requiring the prompt removal of the litter.

Shop owner/businesses

If you are the owner or the person responsible for a place to which the public has access you are obliged to keep the place litter free, regardless of how the litter got there. This applies to any public place which may include the precincts of a shopping centre, a school, a public park, a train or bus station.

Private Property

The owner or occupier of property which can be seen from a public place is obliged to keep it free of litter. Basically any outdoor area on your property that is visible from a public place must be kept free of litter. Where litter has accumulated on property for whatever reason and the litter is visible from a public place, the local authority can issue a notice to the owner requiring the prompt removal of the litter.

Illegal dumping

It is an offence to illegally dump waste, it is an offence to give waste to a collector that does not have a valid waste collection permit and it is an offence to collect waste without a valid waste collection permit. For information on waste permits click here.

The local authority can also require a householder or business operator to indicate how and where they are disposing of their waste. This is particularly relevant if the householder or business owner is not availing of a refuse collection service or bringing their waste to an authorised disposal facility.

Litter Fines

Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence which can be subject to an "on the spot fine" of €150 and maximum fine of €3,000 on conviction in the District Court. A person convicted of a litter offence may be required by the Court to pay the Council's costs and expenses in investigating the offence and in bringing the prosecution.

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