If you need to make a Litter Complaint, use Roscommon County Councils Low Cost Litter Line: 1850 - L-I-T-T-E-R (54 88 37). Alternatively, complete the attached Environment Complaints Form.doc (size 28.7 KB) and send to environment@roscommoncoco.ie.
Litter pollution is the most visible form of pollution and its presence immediately creates a negative impression. The reduction of litter pollution is a priority for Roscommon County Council. Through enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act, education, and promotion of anti-litter initiatives, it is hoped to minimise the problem.
Roscommon County Council employ two full time Litter Wardens, and an Environment Awareness Officer who on the one hand enforce the Litter Act, and on the other, educate in relation of litter.
Litter Management Plan 2011 - 2014.pdf (size 10.6 MB)
The new Litter Management Plan set out objectives and strategies for dealing with litter under the following headings:
- Education, Awareness and Litter Prevention
- Partnership with Community
- Enforcement of Litter Act
- Roscommon County Council to lead by example
Litter and the Law
The Litter Pollution Act 1997 - 2003 brought in tougher litter laws to combat the problems of litter pollution more effectively. The definition of litter is quite wide and extends beyond casual pieces of paper, cigarette ends to anything large or small which is, or is likely to become, unsightly.
Common Litter Horrors are: Chewing Gum, Plastic Wrappers, Soft Drink Cans and Bottles, Cigarette Ends, Paper Packaging/Newspapers, Discarded Fast Food packaging, Receipts.
Know your Litter Law. You are breaking the law when:
- YOU drop or create litter in a public place
- YOU present your household/commercial refuse for collection in a manner that creates litter
- YOU own or occupy land - in or visible from a public place - and fail to keep it free of litter
- YOU own or occupy land along a public road, in a speed limit area, and you fail to keep footpaths, pavements or grass verges along the road in front of your property free of litter. (This means the area between a shop front or house and the public road. It is also an offence to sweep material from the footpath onto the road.)
- YOU own, hire or drive a vehicle and litter is dropped from it
- YOU fail to clean up if your dog fouls in a public place
- YOU place posters/signs on poles or other structures in public places (unless you have written consent or the owner)
- YOU place advertising leaflets on car windscreens
- Disposing of your Household Waste in Litter Bins is also an offence
Fines
If you Litter you face an On the Spot Fine of €150 or a maximum fine of €3,000 in Court.
Anyone convicted of a litter offence may also be required by the Court to pay Roscommon County Council's costs and expenses in investigating the offence and bringing the prosecution.
What You Can Do To Help Prevent Litter
Litter does not simply happen - it is caused.
- THINK TIDY: The only place for Litter is in the Bin - use the Bins provided. If there are none take home your litter for disposal
- PICK UP: A little effort can make a lot of difference to the appearance of your town, village, or school. It only takes a moment to pick up a piece of litter and put it in the bin
- GET INVOLVED: Join in any Clean Ups organised in your area, or organise a Clean Up. Support your local Tidy Towns Committee or local community group. Become involved in the National Spring Clean Anti-Litter Campaign during the month of April
- BE AWARE: Litter on our streets and in the countryside reflects badly on every citizen, it gives out a very negative image to tourists and visitors. The image of a dirty town or village does not encourage return visits
- SPEAK OUT: It's our and our children's environment that is being damaged - if you see someone littering or dumping then report it to the Environment Office, Roscommon County Council
Since the introduction of the Litter Pollution Act there has been significant improvements in Local Authority enforcement action generally. In addition to stepping up enforcement of the Litter Laws, more emphasis is now being placed on litter prevention through education and raising public awareness. The Green Schools Campaign is very successful in educating children on litter action and waste prevention. Anti-Litter Competitions are also promoted by Roscommon County Council in both national and secondary schools.
Roscommon County Council recognises that it is only through working with groups such as Tidy Towns Committees, Residents Associations etc. that progress will be made on tackling peoples attitudes towards litter. The Council organise annual Tidy Estates, Tidy Gardens, Tidy Schools and Tidy Burial Ground competitions, and encourage greater participation in these competitions.
Litter is everybody's responsibility - Tidy Towns Committees, Residents Associations, Community Groups need the support of everyone in the community to help combat litter and join with Clean Up Campaigns all year round. Winners of the National Tidy Towns competition acknowledge that their success depends on the involvement of everyone in the community - business people, residents, children, schools, community groups.
Don't leave it to someone else to deal with the problem - get involved, give your support, with a combined effort a cleaner litter free environment is possible.
Dog Fouling
Allowing you dog to foul in public places and not cleaning up is an offence under the Litter Act. Dog owners must now remove their pets' waste from public places and dispose of it in a proper manner. This obligation applies to:
- Public roads and footpaths
- Areas around shopping centres
- School/sports grounds
- Beaches
- The immediate area surrounding another persons house
The Environment Section provide "Pooper Scoopers" to dog owners free of charge.
Advertising Signs
Advertising Signs are now becoming a major litter problem along our roadsides. These can be very unsightly, can detract from the countryside, and can also have road safety implications.
Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 - 2003 prohibits the erection of signs on certain structures which are visible from a public place, unless the permission of the owner or occupier is given in advance and in writing or exempted under any other enactment. Structures for the purpose of this legislation include any land, door, gate, window, tree, pole or post.
To control advertising signs on public roads a new Policy on Advertising Signs have been adopted and is now in force. Part of this policy requires that temporary signs in respect of charity, sporting or cultural event requires a Temporary Sign Permit from the Environment Office. A refundable bond of 500 is required for such signs.
Policy on Advertising Signs
National Litter Pollution Monitoring
The National Litter Pollution Monitoring System was introduced by the Department of Environment and Local Government to assess and monitor the progress of local authorities in the discharge of their duties under the Litter Act, and to quantify the litter problem in each local authority. The aim of the monitoring system is to provide statistics in relation to the extent and severity of litter pollution in any area, the composition of that litter and its most likely sources. To provide this information litter surveys have to be carried out annually, and Roscommon County Council carries out its required number of litter surveys each year.
Anti-Litter Initiatives
Anti Litter Awareness Grants
The Department of Environment & Local Government provides a grant to promote anti-litter awareness initiatives each year. This funding is intended to cover a broad range of measures to raise public awareness and stimulate anti-litter activity at local level. Initiatives promoted under this grant include:
"Adopt A Spot" for Secondary Schools, Anti-Litter Competitions for Schools, promotion of National Spring Clean, purchase of Dog Fouling Signs, purchase of Litter Pickers, ongoing advertising in local media.
Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL)
Roscommon Town is the only town in the County taking part in this National Anti-Litter League. Roscommon County Council works with the Tidy Towns Committee and Chamber of Commerce to achieve the best results for the town in the competition. As a result there is increased awareness amongst businesses and citizens with regard to litter and its negative implications.
National Spring Clean is organised by An Taisce, during the month of April, in co-operation with each Local Authority. Roscommon County Council strongly promotes National Spring Clean each year. Participating Groups are given Gloves, Litter Pickers, and Bags, to clean up litter in their local areas. The Litter Wardens work with these groups during the month. For information on National Spring Clean contact the Environment Office at 090-6637265.