Call for rotating CCTV to tackle illegal dumping

The use of CCTV monitoring is an important part of Westmeath County Council’s strategy to combat illegal dumping, county councillors were assured at the February meeting of the Kinnegad Mullingar Municipal District.

Cllr Niall Gaffney raised the subject for discussion, and called on the district to create an internal list of designated areas – including bogs, public green spaces and remote roads – that could be updated as necessary and monitored on a rotating basis by CCTV and other surveillance measures.

In response, the district office confirmed it can prepare a list of designated locations to support the rotation of CCTV units in areas experiencing high levels of pollution. The rollout of additional CCTV units is expected to continue until the end of 2026 using funding from the Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI). After that, a business case will be required to assess the effectiveness of the pilot project before any decision is made on continued funding.

Speaking in support of his motion, Cllr Gaffney said the aim was to create an internal council list that elected members could feed into when recurring dumping problems are identified.

“It wouldn’t be public in any means, but rather when we raise a concern about an area – say a particular bog, a public area or a back road where illegal dumping is consistently happening – we would know that it forms part of a rotational assessment or operation.”

He said the monitoring could involve CCTV, drones, physical inspections or other surveillance tools already available to the local authority.

Cllr Gaffney noted that the council has invested significantly in anti-dumping initiatives, including additional supports, training, drones and CCTV, but said it was important that councillors could assure constituents that identified hotspots would be actively monitored within a defined timeframe.

“If someone tells us there’s illegal dumping going on in Johnstown bog, or along an old road where it’s happening consistently, even over Christmas, we need to be able to say that it’s on a list and that within the next three, six or 12 months it will be monitored,” he said.

He added that publicising the fact that hotspots are under constant surveillance, and that prosecutions will follow where evidence is gathered, would act as a deterrent.

Cllr Alfie Devine also backed the proposal, particularly in relation to country roads and bog roads that have become dumping blackspots.

He said a list of locations had previously been submitted for the erection of anti-dumping signage and suggested that could serve as a starting point.

“I’ve noticed some of the signs have gone up around Mullingar, but they haven’t been rolled out in the bog roads and places we’ve already highlighted,” he said. “That would be a start, and then use those areas for CCTV rotation as well.”

Cllr David Jones voiced his support but suggested the council liaise with Coillte and Bord na Móna, as illegal dumping frequently occurs on lands owned by those bodies.

“Why can’t they install cameras as well?” he asked, noting that such agencies often bear the cost of clean-up when waste is dumped inside barriers or along ditches on their property.

Senior executive officer Mary Goldsberry told members that the council already operates a comprehensive litter management system that tracks blackspot areas and schedules regular visits by community wardens.

“We have a list of areas and CCTVs are in these areas at the moment,” she said. “Within our policy, we can rotate them, and that is our plan.”

Ms Goldsberry added that current Anti-Dumping Initiative funding runs until September 20 this year, after which a business case will be prepared to secure further funding and potentially expand the rollout of CCTV and other surveillance measures.