Show how you are disposing of refuse or face fines

HOUSEHOLDERS will be obligated to show they are participating in waste collection under new by-laws or face fines.

They will have to show they are signed up to an authorised bin collection service, use a civic amenity centre, or are bin sharing with consent, for example with a neighbour or family member.

The draft by-laws – which will be national policy - were advertised before Christmas and submissions were invited. None were received.

They will now go before a full meeting of the county council for approval.

An update on the presentation of waste by-laws was presented to members of Mayo County Council's environment policy committee by Kevin Swift, regional waste coordinator for the Connaught Ulster waste region.

The by-laws, he said, were needed because of illegal dumping where people are not using civic amenity centres or a collection service.

A fixed penalty notice of €75 will apply for non-compliances, while a maximum fine of €2,500 could be imposed on conviction in court, members were told.

Ms. Cliona Boland wondered about cases where people have been refused a collection service by companies. Could it be made a requirement of their licence that an operator provides a service in a particular area, she asked.

Mr. Swift said this was not provided for in the permit system. Industry could not be directed to do something under the by-laws.

Ms. Boland said it was worrying too that someone may have used a civic centre but did not keep the receipts and could find themselves prosecuted.

Mr. Swift said there will be awareness campaigns. The aim, he said, is to enable people to do the right thing.

Councillor Peter Flynn was disappointed that 'zero' submissions had been received on the by-laws.

That every household would be obligated to provide evidence was very welcome, he said, asking that they press for maximum fines. They were blighted with people throwing rubbish in scenic spots.

IFA representative Ger Dowd wondered if there was any obligation on companies to provide a collection service. Not all areas have a bin service where it's not economically viable.

Mr. Swift said the by-laws would hopefully create a critical mass which will make it more commercially viable for a service in a particular area.

Department head Martin Keating said one thing the operators said hampered them was that the council civic sites accept waste from potential customers of theirs.

A national review of amenity sites is currently underway.

In relation to shared bins, with both houses registered, Councillor Sean Carey said this needed to be highlighted.

He also raised the issue of old tyres from the days of silage pits and asked if a service could be provided to get rid of them.