Drones to be used in anti-dumping initiative

A new anti-dumping initiative will include funds for monitoring and surveillance equipment, including drones, and for the development of a dumping database.

Minister for Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton said illegal dumpers were “poking their finger in the eye of communities all over the country”.

Their activities could be stamped out only by communities, local authorities and State agencies working together, he said, after announcing an additional 50 per cent in funding to tackle illegal dumping.

The increase in funding under the €3 million Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) will enable approaches to managing known dumping blackspots, clean-ups and enforcement backed where appropriate by the use of drones.

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“We can only stamp it out if we work together. This money will step up the chances of catching the offenders and will provide help to those who want to do the right thing,” he said.

“Innovation, surveillance using drones, special collections for awkward items like mattresses, spreading awareness among young people and recognising the work of volunteers can all play a role.”

Blackspots

Since 2017, the ADI programme has removed some 5,000 tonnes of illegal waste from some of the country’s most notorious fly-tipping blackspots. “In the vast majority of cases, once a community takes action in a particular area, re-offending becomes highly unlikely. Nearly half of the funding being announced today will go towards tackling blackspots,” the minister noted.

The ADI funding is in addition to the €7.4 million annual enforcement grant, which supports the recruitment and retention of 150 local authority waste enforcement personnel across the country.

Funding is available under the ADI this year for prevention measures such as physical infrastructure including lighting, fencing and barriers at identified blackspots and sites at risk.