A county council has warned it will no longer clean up illegal dumping, and has appealed to communities for their assistance in reporting the practice after a dramatic increase in cases over the past five months.
For the first five months of this year almost 400 cases of illegal dumping of household rubbish, abandoned cars and large items have been investigated by Kerry County Council, an increase of 60 per cent on the same period last year.
The cases include large-scale sites, with some sites holding tonnes of rubbish.
Remote bogland sites as well as more scenic seaside and woodland areas are the locations favoured by those dumping rubbish.
County manager Martin Riordan has warned the council will no longer take it upon itself to clean up the sites.
"If we continue to clean up illegal sites we are providing a free collection service for the minority of people who illegally dispose of their waste. However we are willing to co-operate with local communities to clean and police areas that suffer as a result of illegal dumping," he said.
Mr Riordan added that "some of the most beautiful and environmentally sensitive areas of Kerry are subjected to indiscriminate dumping."
The council's director of services for the environment, Philip O'Sullivan, appealed to people to make a complaint when they witnessed illegal dumping.
"If we simply sit back and let it happen, then we will have no choice but to live with the rotting waste of others on our doorstep. A good quality environment in Kerry is essential to all who live and visit the county, we should not tolerate the minority who are destroying it for everyone," Mr O'Sullivan said.