Litter and Dumping Updates July 2025
Tue, Jul 8, 2025
Read in 2 minutes
Litter and dumping are among the most common issues that people raise with me as a Councillor. It is incredibly frustrating for everyone who lives, works and spends their time in the North Inner City to see how significant the problem is here. Our area is consistently a black spot on annual litter surveys and it sometimes feels a bit hopeless.
I've been pushing for some changes which I think will help us turn the tide on litter and dumping, including:
- The reintroduction of CCTV
- The implementation of the reverse register to identify households without a waste contract
- Alternatives to bagged waste to tackle the issue of seagulls tearing bags apart
- Landlord responsibility for bin contracts in multi-let and short-term let units
- Shared bins on small terraced streets where wheelie bins aren’t practical
- Waste compactors for commercial streets
We have made some significant progress towards these goals over the past year and the Council has committed more resources than ever towards maintained clean streets. However, the progress has been slow to be seen on the ground. I requested a report from the City Council updating us on several of the projects they have committed to undertake. You can read it in full in the attachment below but I will summarise here:\
Project Updates:
- Removal of Derogations: This project will phase out the use of plastic bags for kerbside waste collection. A pilot near Stephen’s Green will offer alternative solutions like reusable receptacles, business-to-business collections, and communal on-street compactors. The process of seeking electrical approval for compactors has caused delays, but the project is expected to proceed in the next 4-6 weeks, after which plastic bag kerbside collection will be prohibited in the pilot area. The next area to be addressed will be the Capel Street/Parrnell Street area.
- CCTV Scheme: To deter and prosecute illegal dumping, CCTV cameras are being installed. Phase 1 focuses on three North East Inner City streets: Belvedere Place, Sherard Street, and Summer Street North. Phase 2 will target bring banks and textile banks with a history of illegal dumping. Delays have occurred due to issues mounting cameras on existing public lighting poles, but solar-powered poles are now planned for installation within four weeks.
- Reverse Register Scheme: This initiative aims to create a register of households and businesses that are not using authorised waste collection services. It will help enforce waste management bye-laws. The project is in its early stages, awaiting IT security information to complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) before seeking CEO approval.
- Shared Bin Initiative: A collaboration with the Dublin City Council BETA unit, this trial explores the effectiveness of shared, on-street waste bins for domestic waste in urban neighbourhoods. A prototype has been built, and discussions with residents for a suitable trial location are underway. This will hopefully go ahead in the coming months at a southside location and give the opportunity to be replicated elsewhere in the city.