The Department of the Environment is being urged to put a vetting system in place for private waste-collectors after some residents in Waterford city were duped by a "cowboy" and now face hefty fines by Waterford County Council.
Several city residents paid a private waste-collector €60 for each household to dispose of the waste after a clean-up on their estate in August. However, the waste, which included heavy white goods and household rubbish, was dumped in scenic areas in Stradbally, Dungarvan and Ballyvooney in the county, according to the Waterford News and Star.
The waste-collector is described as a "pleasant and reassuring fellow driving a white van". He promised the residents, who do not wished to be identified, that the recyclable materials would be separated before the waste was sent to landfill.
The residents, who had contacted the man through an advertisement, were unaware of the problem until they were traced by Waterford County Council from documents among the waste. They have been fined €125 each, as well as a €100 clean-up charge.
Waterford city councillor Mr John Halligan (WP), who was approached by residents, said they were deeply distressed by the incident.
"Not only have these people been fined but they can be named and shamed. I know these people very well and they are very decent people. They are all very distressed. It is not the fine but the thought of being named and associated with illegal dumping is worrying them. This guy has to be stopped."
Mr Halligan wants the Government to take action against such operators. "The Department of the Environment must contact people advertising such a service to make sure they are bona fide and that they are bringing the waste to a legal dump."
The name of the waste-collector has been passed on to Waterford City and County Councils, which is investigating a number of similar cases.
Kilkenny Co Council has admitted polluting the river Nore from its sewage treatment plant on the edge of the city for the second time in six months. At the weekend, residents of Sion Road, Kilkenny complained when they saw activated sludge entering the river from the plant.
The council admitted that the liquid entered the river from two settling tanks on site and said matters were brought under control on Monday afternoon, after nearly a day and a half.