Limerick Householders Urged To Secure Refuse Collection Service

Feb. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- The Bye-Laws, which came into operation on 9 January 2012 following an extensive county-wide public consultation process in mid-2011, relate to the presentation, storage and segregation of household and commercial waste.

Approximately 25,389 households, representing 52% of all households in County Limerick, are presently without an authorised refuse collection service.  

The Council said the legislation will encourage proper management of household and commercial waste, and will decrease the level of unauthorised dumping and backyard burning which takes place in County Limerick.

Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council Cllr. Mary Harty stated that the Bye-Laws will help to reduce the large environmental and financial costs associated with illegal dumping and litter in County Limerick.

“The Elected Members of Limerick County Council, who unanimously approved these Bye Laws in October 2011, anticipate that the legislation will result in significant savings for the tax-payer as it currently costs in excess of €1.5m per annum to deal with this problem.  This is money that could be put to much better use in other areas such as the provision of amenities and recreational facilities,” Cllr. Harty added.

Similar Bye-Laws have already been introduced in other local authority areas across the country in accordance with Section 35 of the Waste Management Act, 1996.

According to Mary Killeen Fitzgerald, Administrative Officer, Limerick County Council: “These Bye-Laws are aimed at maintaining and improving our environment by presenting waste and recyclables in a suitable manner. The Council introduced these Bye-Laws for the purposes of the proper management of waste and for the prevention and control of Environmental Pollution”.

Commenting on the enforcement of the new Bye Laws, Ms. Killeen Fitzgerald explained: “The Litter Management Unit will be carrying out checks on residential properties during 2012 to determine what residents are currently without a service, and action will be taken against persons who cannot satisfy the Local Authority that they are disposing of their waste in a manner that is acceptable to the Council. Individuals found to be in direct contravention of the Bye Laws will be issued with a fixed payment notice of €60.”

“The Council will continue to carry out public awareness campaigns regarding the Bye-Laws and other environmental matters, and will work closely with members of the public toward achieving a cleaner greener County Limerick”, she concluded.

So what do the Bye-Laws mean for residents and businesses of County Limerick?
- If you live or operate a business within 200m of a serviced collection route you must enter into a contract with a permitted waste collector
-Bin Sharing is acceptable subject to the Councils approval.
The waste must be presented in separate receptacles: dry recyclables in the recycling bin, food waste and other organics in the brown bin and the remaining waste in your landfill bin (where the three-bin collection system is in operation)
-   The waste receptacles must be kept in good condition, must not be over-filled or cause litter and must not cause an obstruction when placed for collection.
-   A breach of the bye-laws may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued in the sum of 60 Euros
A copy of the Bye-Laws and a Bin Sharing Declaration Form may be obtained from the Environment Section of Limerick County Council at 061-496264 and/or at the Councils Area Offices, or on the Council website, www.lcc.ie.

-ENDS-

CONTACT:
Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
(Tel) 00353-868534900
www.dunphypr.com
www.twitter.com/dunphypr