Report on Litter Management in Artane/Whitehall
Here is the report issued to the North Central Area Committee for March 2010:
A key objective of the Area office is to ensure a consistently high standard of cleanliness throughout the area and to promote and encourage prevention, reuse and recycling of waste and the management of litter.
To facilitate the achievement of litter preservation and control, the Area office works closely with the Waste Management Division, and the Area has its own locally managed designated resources.
The Waste Management Division operates weekly bin collections from 39, 564 households and disposes of 130 ton (est.) of domestic waste daily. A Waste management vehicle to clean any litter arising from the roads and footpaths immediately follows each collection route.
The Waste Management Divison on a daily basis cleans the main public arterial roads - Clontarf Road, Collins Avenue, Griffith Avenue, Howth Road, Malahide Road, Oscar Traynor Roads, Swords Road and Tonlegee Rd. In relation to the high profile promenade and environs, one staff is assigned to daily cleansing and bin collection on Clontarf Road. In relation to litter collection, there are scheduled daily tasks of cleaning and litter bin collection at shop fronts and at schools. This service commences daily at 6.00 a.m.
The Area Office's Public Domain Officer manages a specialised vehicle with a two man crew for litter removal in public areas (enviro crew). It has the advantage of being flexible and prompt in its responsiveness to incidents that is often appreciated by those affected by fly dumping. There is also an Area Public Domain crew of 9 staff that are deployed in litter collection. These locally managed resources are very responsive and effective particularly in relation to requests from councillors, and the public.
The Area Office's Environmental Liaison Officer also has a key role in responding to elected public representatives, business, residents associations, other groups and individuals advising him of litter incidents. He organises cleaning and remedial response to litter incidences with the Area Services such as providing litter pickers, bags and then arranging for collection by the City Council.
Another important local function by the Environmental Liaison Officer and staff is litter prevention by raising awareness by visiting schools, and distributing anti-litter pamphlets. A special DVD is available for schools. Also work is done with local environmental groups on local enhancements to open spaces.
Also it should be borne in mind that the Annual Neighbourhood competition, which is open to all housing estates and businesses, not only raises awareness of litter prevention but also involves local communities proactively and in partnership with the Area office. For the North Central Area, it is significant and a tribute to community engagement, that there have been several city winners and indeed in 2008 a national winner - Ard na Greine. Indeed such high performances set standards for other estates and are encouraging to this Office and local councillors.
North Central has 3 litter wardens whose duties are the patrolling the area for illegal dumping and the issue of fines. In 2009, 566 fines were issued by them and in 11 cases; court prosecutions were taken for non-payment of fines.
In 2009, in compliance with DCC Litter Bye Laws, the Litters Wardens called to all licensed premises, restaurants and fast food outlets and advised them of their responsibility to remove litter from their trading premises to a distance 50 metre on the footpath either side of their frontage. They continue to liaise with such premises.
The Parks Division through its direct staff and a contractor is responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of public open spaces in the area. There are scheduled tasks and the Area Office communicates with Parks Divison when occurrences of specific illegal dumping or litter are reported.
Despite the considerable efforts of DCC resources and community engagement, some litter blackspots have prevailed notably in laneways and on some open spaces close at the northern boundary of the area. In all cases it is considered that the secluded nature of those locations, unfortunately provide an opportunity for irresponsible people to dump litter.
Actions have been taken including, an anti-litter poster campaign designed by local school children in Darndale and regular inspections by Litter Wardens of dumped litter in laneways for evidence of the identity of the perpetrators.
It is considered that the North Central Area remains observably clean and litter free in the vast majority of its public open spaces and roads despite the black spots. There is no complacency because some irresponsible behaviour will continue.
A major advantage of the Area Office is the availability of dedicated Waste Management staff to be quickly assigned to sudden incidents of litter. Also the Area Office maintains good communication with Waste management personnel and will continue to seek ways to prevent and control litter.
The Area office actively seeks to maintain the area litter free, to seek action and improvement areas, to work with local business, community and school groups and advise and assist residents groups.
