THE Government’s adoption of a Labour Party Bill will allow local authorities use closed circuit television to tackle illegal dumping in a way that is fully compliant with national and EU data protection law.
That’s according to Limerick City East Labour Party Councillor Elena Secas who said that the use of CCTV for enforcement purposes would definitely prevent illegal dumping.
Speaking after the second stage of the Circular Economy Bill was taken in the Seanad, Cllr Secas welcomed a commitment from Minister of State Ossian Smyth that the legislation would allow the use of recording technologies for waste enforcement purposes
“Last year my Labour colleague Senator Mark Wall brought a Bill to the Seanad which would allow the use of CCTV in prosecution of cases. This was in response to the increase in illegal dumping, particularly during Covid restrictions, when the work of voluntary community groups such as Tidy Towns and residents groups was being undermined.
“Senator Wall estimated that the cost of clearing up litter and illegally dumped materials could be as much as €90 million a year. This is without considering the voluntary trojan effort put in by the community clean-up groups.
“It’s a colossal amount to spend on cleaning up other people’s rubbish. Just imagine what we could do in Limerick if even a fraction of that money was put into local facilities, such as playgrounds and community projects.
“The only way to stop illegal dumping is to see prosecutions of those who wreck our communities by fly tipping, littering and illegally dumping,” Cllr Secas added.
