Litter Management Plan 2007 – 2009

Mayo County Council

Litter Management Plan

2007 – 2009

-

Mayo County Council

Acknowledgements

Grateful appreciation is extended to those who provided images of Mayo (both positive and negative) for the purpose of this document. Thanks to Mr. Frank Dolan, Westport Tidy Towns Committee and also to Mary Forde, acting Environmental Awareness Officer, Mayo County Council for photograph of Knock NS, recipients of Green Flag in May, 2006.

In addition, thanks to students from DavittCollege, St. Gerald’s Collage and St. Joseph’s Secondary School for permission to reprint pictures taken for Anti-Litter Awareness Photograph Exhibition. The remaining pictures were captured by Dr. Karol Donnelly, Mayo Co Council.

Preamble

This is the Litter Management Plan 2007 to 2009, compiled by the Environment Section of Mayo County Council. Under Section 12 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 the production, amendment or replacement of a litter management plan by a local authority must involve a consultation process with voluntary and representative bodies as the local authority deems appropriate.

To comply with Section 12 (1) (a) notice of this draft document was published in a newspaper circulating through Mayo in addition to an announcement on ‘Mid West Radio’ over three successive days. In addition, notice was posted on the Mayo County Council website at

In relation to the contents of this draft plan, any person who makes a submission may make an oral presentation on the submission to discuss specific proposals with Mayo County Council. Following receipt of submissions from the public and voluntary bodies Mayo County Council may, under Section 12 (4) as the case requires, make and implement the litter management plan, make and implement such amendment to the plan or implement such replacement plan as the local authority deems appropriate in the circumstances.

Under subsection (5) - As soon as possible after the making, amendment to or replacement of a litter management plan under this section, the local authority concerned shall publish and distribute the plan, amended plan or replacement plan, or a suitable outline thereof, as widely as possible in its functional area to such extent as will, in its opinion, give adequate publicity to the plan.

At a recent meeting of Mayo County Council, the members passed a proposal (324/06)

‘That Mayo County Council resolves to designate elimination of illegal dumping as the Council’s top priority for 2007’.

Index

Executive Summary 6

1.0Introduction 9

1.0.1CountyMayo 9

1.0.2Litter in Ireland 9

1.0.3Litter in Mayo 10

2.0Litter and the Law 11

2.0.1Litter Pollution Act, 1997 11

2.0.2Current Status 2006 13

3.0Litter Management Plan 2007 to 2009 14

3.0.1 General Objectives of the Litter

Management Plan 14

3.1Litter Control, Prevention and Alleviation Measures 15

3.1.1Public Awareness and Advisory Measures 15

3.1.2Youth Education Measures 19

3.1.3Community and Voluntary Group Cooperative Measures 21

3.1.4Partnership and Consultative Measures /Planning 25

3.1.5Enforcement Measures 26

3.1.6Active Control Measures 29

3.1.7Miscellaneous Measures 30

References 34

Appendices 35

Executive Summary

According to the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 and 2001, ‘"litter" means a substance or object, whether or not intended as waste (other than waste within the meaning of the Waste Management Act, 1996, which is properly consigned for disposal) that, when deposited in a place other than a litter receptacle or other place lawfully designated for the deposit, is or is likely to become unsightly, deleterious, nauseous or unsanitary, whether by itself or with any other such substance or object, and regardless of its size or volume or the extent of the deposit’.

Under Section 10 of the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 and 2001 each Local Authority has the responsibility of adopting a Litter Management Plan within its functional area.

The principal objective of a Litter Management Plan is to alleviate, control and prevent litter pollution insofar as possible and Mayo County Council appreciates that public awareness measures, educational endeavours and cooperation from the general public in addition to enforcement measures are crucial to achieve this primary goal.

The Mayo County Council Litter Management Plan, for the period 2007 to 2009, includes inter alia identification of litter pollution issues, prevention and control of litter pollution, policies on enforcement measures, educational campaigns, community involvement and general enforcement of the Act. The measures to achieve the primary goals are listed as follows. In addition Table 1 summarises the main measures, with initiatives which are currently undertaken and those proposed for the three-year period 2007 to 2009.

Programme of Measures for litter control, prevention and alleviation in Mayo:

  1. Public Awareness and Advisory Measures
  2. Youth Education Measures
  3. Community and Voluntary Group Cooperative Measures
  4. Partnership and Consultative Measures / Planning
  5. Enforcement Measures
  6. Active Control Measures
  7. Miscellaneous Measures

Table 1 Summary of the litter prevention, control and alleviation measures. Current initiatives are also shown, in addition to those which are proposed to be undertaken during 2007 to 2009

Litter Prevention, Control & Alleviation Measures / Current Initiatives / Proposed Initiatives
1. Public Awareness & Advisory Measures / Environment Leaflet & Newsletters / Increase/supplement present advertising
Mayo Co. Council website / Expand / supplement environment page
Local press, cinema and radio advertising / Increase/supplement present advertising
Appropriate signs / Continue
Environmental Awareness Officer (EAO) / Continue with current advisory measures, approval for additional EAO sought
Litter Advisory letters / Continue
Initiate a cigarette-related litter educational campaign
2. Youth Education Measures / Green Flag Initiative / Continue and expand
Photograph / Poster competitions for students of all ages / Continue and expand
Other Youth Education projects e.g. 'Adopt An Area' / Continue and expand
3. Community And Voluntary Group Cooperative Measures / Anti-litter Awareness funding / Continue all support, financial and otherwise
Community Group Awards / Continue, increase promotion and expand competitions
4. Partnership & Consultative Measures / Planning / National Litter Monitoring Body / Continue support and involvement
Connaught Waste Management Group / Continue support and involvement

Table 1 continued

Litter Prevention, Control & Alleviation Measures / Current Initiatives / Proposed Initiatives
5. Enforcement Measures / Litter Wardens - enforcement / Employ additional wardens as a priority
Environmental Enforcement Officers / Continue with current litter control and prevention strategies
Litter Line 1800 400 256 / To advertise this number within the public domain insofar as possible
Initiate Environment Public Complaints Procedure
Use alternative strategies for littering by underage offenders
Introduce byelaws
Prosecute all offenders when sufficient evidence is available
6. Active Control Measures / Routine of bin-emptying, street sweeping and cleaning undertaken as efficiently as possible / Continue and improve insofar as possible
Review and examine current cleaning plans in Mayo
Undertake a bin audit to examine need for additional bins
Undertake a pilot study with compartmentalised bin in designated Mayo town
7. Miscellaneous Measures / Blue Flag Beaches / Maintain current status
Tidy Towns Committees / Continue/maintain present support
Maintain local authority responsibility with respect to litter prevention and control / Educate all employees on litter pollution and encourage cooperation on all litter initiatives
Mayo Co Council to 'lead by example' / Continue and progress with staff educational and awareness campaigns
Develop a Litter Prevention Board within MayoCounty Council

1.0Introduction

1.0.1CountyMayo

Mayo is a county of great natural beauty situated in the West of Ireland and bordered by the Atlantic seaboard in addition to counties Sligo, Roscommon and Galway. Castlebar is the county seat of government where Mayo County Council is headquartered. Other principal towns of Mayo are Ballina and Westport.

The population of Mayo is 123,648 and growing (CSO, 2006). The total land area of Mayo is 5585 km2 which makes it quite a moderately populated county at just greater than 22 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Picturesque Mayo

1.0.2Litter in Ireland

According to the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, ‘"litter" means a substance or object, whether or not intended as waste (other than waste within the meaning of the Waste Management Act, 1996, which is properly consigned for disposal) that, when deposited in a place other than a litter receptacle or other place lawfully designated for the deposit, is or is likely to become unsightly, deleterious, nauseous or unsanitary, whether by itself or with any other such substance or object, and regardless of its size or volume or the extent of the deposit’.

Litter has been recognised as a nationwide problem. A recent national survey on litter by the National Litter Monitoring Body (TES, 2006) concluded that passing pedestrians were responsible for 35.6% of all litter polluting our country and over 80% of litter is cigarette and food related in origin. Packaging litter, paper and plastics are some examples of the remaining contributing litter. In addition to passing pedestrians, this pervasive nuisance also originates from motorists, fast food outlets and retail outlets.

Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) is an alliance encompassing greater than 30 member companies, employing in excess of 70,000 staff. Members share a belief that continued economic prosperity - notably in the areas of tourism, food and direct foreign investment - is contingent on a clean, litter-free environment. As part of the IBAL Anti-Litter League, all towns of population 6,000 and over are monitored independently by An Taisce in accordance with international grading standards.

1.0.3Litter in Mayo

Mayo is currently the proud home of Ireland’s tidiest town – Westport. Having also won the award in 2001 in addition to the TidiestLargeTown in 2003 and 2004 and a gold medal in 2002, Westport has been tremendously successful in national and international competitions which recognise the significance and importance of the theme of litter control, prevention and alleviation.
In the first round of surveys conducted by IBAL in Mayo in 2006, a number of areas in both Castlebar and Ballina were described as having ‘ serious litter problems’. In contrast, however, the majority of locations were described as ‘clean to European norms’. This survey demonstrates that even though many areas in Mayo are unpolluted by litter or litter-free, some litter black spots remain and these problem areas should ideally be alleviated as a matter of urgency.

Litter Black Spot

Like every Irish county, Mayo has a litter pollution problem that must be addressed. Mayo County Council recognises this fact and steps have been taken and continue to be taken to control and alleviate this widespread nuisance. Members of Westport, Ballina and Castlebar Town Councils have proposed that individual Town Litter Management Plans will be compiled.

2.0Litter and The Law

2.0.1 Litter Pollution Act, 1997 and 2001

The Litter Pollution Act came into forcein 1997, repealing The Litter Act, 1982. It was amended by the Waste Management (Amendment) Act, 2001 and is now referred to as the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 and 2001. The main objectives of the Act are to define littering as an offence, assign responsibility for litter control to producers, retailers and business owners, to facilitate the enforcement of litter offences, to define local authority responsibilities with respect to litter management planning, supervision and to define collection systems for litter. Hence, to call the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 a ‘litter act’ undermines the many powers and functions given to local authorities in addition to the duties of the general public bestowed by this piece of legislation.

For the purpose of this document the Litter Pollution Act, 1979 and 2001 will be referred to as ‘the Act’ and is summarised as follows.

  • Sections 1 and 2 contain the short title and interpretation.
  • Sections 3-6 are vital as; they collectively define the creation of litter as an offence, and detail the duties on landowners and householders to prevent litter.
  • Sections 7 –8 outline the prevention of creation of litter and the duty of respecting public roads.
  • Section 9 highlights the serving of a notice on persons to remove waste in a specified period.
  • Sections 10-13 describe the various roles and functions of local authorities within their functional area. In addition, Section 10 details the responsibility of each Local Authority to prepare a Litter Management Plan in respect of its functional area. This Plan should include inter alia identification of litter pollution issues, prevention and control of litter pollution, its policies on enforcement measures, educational campaigns, community involvement and general enforcement of the Act. Section 10 also details the timeframes involved in compiling such a document and issues responsibility on the relevant local authority to review the Plan at least once in each period of 3 years. In addition, the local authority ‘should also prepare a report for consideration by the council or corporation, as the case may be, on the operation of this Act in the functional area of the local authority indicating the measures taken by the local authority in the previous calendar year in relation to the prevention and control of litter’.
  • Section 14 describes the immunity of local authorities from liability.
  • Sections 15-18 describe the responsibilities of owners of commercial activities and their role in the prevention of litter.
  • Sections 19-22 covers issues such as dog fouling, fly posting and unwanted advertising signs.
  • Penalties incurred upon non-compliance with the Act are detailed in Sections 23-28 and the final sections 29-36 deal with Ministerial functions and creation of regulations.

2.0.2 Current Status - 2006

Under Sections 10,11 and 12 of the Act, Mayo County Council is obliged to produce a Litter Management Plan (LMP) and to review this plan at least once in each period after the plan is first implemented. This document will be cited as Mayo County Council Litter Management Plan 2007 to 2009. In addition, Mayo County Council will prepare a report for consideration on the operation of the Litter Pollution Act, indicating the measures taken in the previous calendar year in relation to the prevention and control of litter.

Litter and Our Legacy

Mayo County Council appreciates that public awareness measures, educational endeavours and cooperation from the general public in addition to enforcement measures are crucial to alleviate, control and attempt to prevent litter pollution insofar as possible. Hence, it is envisaged that the current Litter Management Plan of Mayo County Council will be a plan for the future, resulting in a positive outcome in the area of litter pollution control.

3.0Litter Management Plan 2007 to 2009

3.0.1 General Objectives of the Litter Management Plan

In developing a Litter Management Plan, the powers enacted uponMayo County Council by the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 will be identified and clearly stated.

It has been recognised that the objectives of such a plan will be successfully achieved by:-

  • focusing on the powers of enforcement and active control
  • a fully co-ordinated and cooperative approach actively involving all members of the general public
  • relaying an anti-litter message to each and every Mayo dweller and visitor.

The following measures for the alleviation of litter pollution have been identified and are adopted or in the process of being adopted. It is hoped that by the successful undertaking of each individual measure to its full potential, many improvements will be made in the area of litter management, control and prevention.

  • Public Awareness and Advisory Measures
  • Youth Education Measures
  • Community and Voluntary Group Cooperative Measures
  • Partnership and Consultative Measures / Planning
  • Enforcement Measures
  • Active Control Measures
  • Miscellaneous Measures

3.1 Litter Prevention, Control and Alleviation Measures

3.1.1Public Awareness and Advisory Measures

Measures Undertaken

In a recent survey compiled locally and undertaken on a random population by second level institutions in Castlebar, it was concluded that 41% of the interviewees were familiar with the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 and 2001 (Donnelly, 2006). The initial objective of this survey was to report findings in papers in circulation in the Mayo region to coincide with National Spring Clean 2006 and was not a Mayo County Council campaign, rather a public awareness exercise in conjunction with Castlebar Tidy Towns Committee. The survey was conducted on a random population of Castlebar residents and visitors, representing both genders and age categories from 15 years to 55+.

Public awareness on litter pollution is paramount in order to control the problem. It has been estimated that cigarette-related litter constitutes the highest percentage (49.39%) of litter in Ireland (TES, 2006) and yet it has been suggested that many individuals do not regard cigarette butts as items of litter. This one example clearly demonstrates a poor understanding of the Act and its definitions.

Mayo County Council has concentrated on public awareness measures for many years.

  • One such example is the ‘Litter and the Law’ publication which is distributed widely throughout the county (Appendix I). In addition to describing the responsibilities of Mayo County Council and of the general public, this document also highlights other legislation such as the Waste Management (Amendment) Act, 2001 and the Environment Act, 2003.

Litter & The Law –

one publication by Mayo County Council

  • As a very important means of communication, the Mayo County Council Homepage contains litter-related material and also application forms for various anti-litter grants and other initiatives, described in Sections 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 of this document.
  • Local newspapers in circulation in the functional area of Mayo County Council have been used to advertise litter news and events such as the annual An Taisce National Spring Clean in April.
  • Newsletters also, have the desired effect of raising awareness on all environmental matters and local radio and cinema are used as a means of communicating upcoming events and anti-litter initiatives and announcements.

Mayo’s two landfills at Derrinumera and Rathroeen contain the main recycling receptacles of the county accepting items such as plastics, tin and aluminium cans, batteries, cardboard and papers and other items listed in Appendix II. Throughout Mayo, there are approximately 90 ‘bring centres’ in operation at present where one can deposit recyclable goods such as glass, aluminium cans and clothing items.