Litter

&
The Law
Know your responsibilities for taking action against litter

LITTER
The Litter Pollution Act, 1997 introduced tougher litter laws to combat the problems of litter pollution more
effectively. This leaflet is intended as a practical guide to these litter laws. For further information you should
contact South Dublin County Council Environmental Services, phone 01 4149000. A copy of the Litter
Pollution Act may be purchased from Government Publications Postal Trade Section, 51 St. Stephens
Green, Dublin 2. Phone 01 6476834.
FINES
Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence which can be subject to an on the spot fine of €150
or a maximum fine of €3000 in court. The definition of litter is quite wide and extends beyond casual pieces
of paper or cigarette ends to anything large or small which is, or is likely to become unsightly. A person
convicted of a litter offence may also be required by the court to pay South Dublin County Council’s costs
and expenses in investigating the prosecution.

PUBLIC PLACES
If you are the owner or the person responsible for a place to which the public has access you are obliged to
keep the place litter free, regardless of how the litter got there. This applies to any public place which may
include the precincts of a shopping centre, a school campus, a public park, a train or bus station or a public
road.
PRIVATE PROPERTY
The owner or occupier of property which can be seen from a public place is obliged to keep it free of litter.
Basically, any outdoor area on your property that is visible from a public place must be kept free of litter.

LITTER BLACK SPOTS

Where litter has accumulated on property for whatever reason and the litter is visible from a public place, the
local authority can issue notice to the owner or occupier requiring the prompt removal of the litter. Such a
notice can also set down precautionary measures to be put in place to prevent a reoccurrence. If a property
owner or occupier fails or refuses to do everything that has been requested, the Council has the power to
do whatever is necessary itself and require the owner or occupier to pay all of the costs involved.
ILLEGAL DUMPING
The litter laws have increased the powers of local authorities to combat illegal dumping of refuse and
rubbish. Where the Council finds material that is illegally dumped and establishes the identity of the owner of
the material, that person will have a case to answer without necessarily having to be caught in the act. Extra
powers are available to local authorities to require a householder or business operator to indicate how and
where they are disposing of their waste. This is particularly relevant if the householder or business owner is
not availing of a refuse collection service or bringing their waste to an authorised disposal facility. If you see
someone dumping illegally, report the matter to the Environmental Services Department who will investigate
and take any necessary enforcement action.

MAJOR EVENTS
The promoters or organisers of major events are required to ensure that they have litter control measures in
place at the venue and in the surrounding vicinity before, during and after the event. This applies to
football matches and other social and sporting events at which large crowds attend. It is possible that this
task can be undertaken by the Council but the promoter / organiser must bear the costs involved.

MOBILE FOOD OUTLETS

Operators of mobile food outlets selling fast food or beverages, or other outlets such as those selling farm
produce are obliged to provide suitable litter-bins in the vicinity of their outlets. Also, they must clean-up any
litter arising from the operation of their outlets within a radius of 100 metres from their outlet.
DOG FOULING
Dog owners must now remove their pets’ waste from public places and dispose of it in a proper manner. This
obligation applies to the following places:
 Public roads and footpaths

 Areas around shopping centres

 School/sports grounds

 Parks

 Green Open Spaces

 The immediate area surrounding another persons house

PRESENTING YOUR REFUSE FOR COLLECTION

Taking a few small precautions in the way you present your refuse for collection will help enormously in
preventing the creation of litter. Wheel-bins should be placed at the side of the footpath, handles facing out
to the road. Always have the lid closed securely. You should put out refuse for collection on the morning and
not on the day or night before. The longer it is left out for collection the more likely it is to attract the
unwanted attention of dogs, cats and birds. It is an offence to dispose of your household refuse in street litter
bins.

CIVIC AMENITY FACILITY

Householders who wish to dispose of excess household rubbish may do so at the Council’s Civic Amenity
Facility, Ballymount Avenue, Dublin 24. There is a modest charge for use of the facility. Recyclables and
white goods are accepted free of charge, see www.southdublin.ie for full list of materials accepted or phone
01 4621251. Opening Hours: Bank Holidays 09:30-17:00, Mon-Fri 09:30-17:00, Sat 09:00-17:30, Sun
09:30-17:00

RECYCLING
Recycling “bring centres” are located all around South Dublin County including at most shopping centres.

or a full list of locations log onto: www.southdublin.ie or www.dublinwaste.ie

WHO ENFORCES THE LITTER LAWS

Local Authorities are responsible for implementing the litter laws within the County boundary. This means
they are responsible for the prevention and control of litter and they have the power to take enforcement
action against individuals who break or ignore these laws. Gardaí also have the power to issue on the spot
fines for litter offences.

POSTERS AND SIGNS

The law forbids the putting up of posters/signs on poles or on other structures in public places unless you
have the written permission of the owner of the pole or other structure in advance of putting up the
posters/signs. It is also prohibited to place advertising leaflets on car, vans etc. without the prior consent of
the owner of the vehicle
CAR REMOVAL
South Dublin County Council provides a car removal service for a fee. For further information call 01
4149000 or log on to www.southdublin.ie

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT US:

Environmental Services, South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Phone 01 4149000 or Email: info@sdublincoco.ie
www.southdublin.ie
www.dublinwaste.ie

Bruscar
&
An Dlí
Bíodh na freagrachtaí atá ort maidir le gníomhú in aghaidh
an bhruscair ar eolas agat
BRUSCAR
Tugadh dlíthe bruscair níos déine isteach faoin mBille um Thruailliú ó Bhruscar, 1997 chun na fadhbanna a
ghabhann le truailliú ó bhruscar a chomhrac ar bhealach níos éifeachtaí. Treoir phraiticiúil maidir leis na
dlíthe bruscair atá i gceist leis an mbileog seo. Má tá a thuilleadh eolais uait ba chóir duit dul i dteagmháil le
Seirbhísí Comhshaoil Chomhairle Contae Átha Cliath Theas, uimhir theileafóin 01 4149000. Is féidir cóip
den Litter Pollution Act a cheannach ó: Foilseacháin Rialtais, An Rannóg Post-Trádála, 51 Faiche Stiabhna,
Baile Átha Cliath 2. Uimhir Theileafóin 01 6476834.

FÍNEALACHA
Is cion é bruscar a fhágáil nó a chaitheamh in áit phoiblí gníomh a d’fhéadfadh a bheith faoi réir ag fíneáil ar
an láthair de €150 nó ag fíneáil uasta de €3000 sa chúirt. Sainmhíniú an-leathan is ea an sainmhíniú ar
bhruscar agus tá níos mó i gceist leis ná píosaí páipéir nó bunanna toitíní mar go n-áirítear leis rud ar bith
mór nó beag atá, nó gur dóigh go mbeidh sé mímhaiseach. D’fhéadfadh go gceanglódh an chúirt ar dhuine
a chiontófaí i gcion bruscair costais agus speansais Chomhairle Contae Átha Cliath Theas a íoc as an
ionchúiseamh a imscrúdú.

ÁITEANNA POIBLÍ
Más tusa an t-úinéir ar áit nó más tú atá freagrach as áit ar féidir leis an bpobal dul isteach ann tá sé de
dhualgas ort an áit a choinneáil saor ó bhruscar, beag beann ar an tslí ar tharla don bhruscar a bheith ansin.
Tá feidhm aige seo maidir le háit phoiblí ar bith lena bhféadfadh go n-áireofaí líomatáistí ionad
siopadóireachta, campas scoile, páirc phoiblí, stáisiún traenach nó bus nó bóthar poiblí.

MAOIN PHRÍOBHÁIDEACH
Tá sé de dhualgas ar úinéir nó ar áititheoir maoine ar féidir í a fheiceáil ó áit phoiblí an mhaoin a choinneáil
saor ó bhruscar. Go bunúsach, ní mór áit ar bith taobh amuigh ar do mhaoin ar féidir í a fheiceáil ó áit
phoiblí, a choinneáil saor ó bhruscar.

SIOCRACHA MÓRA BRUSCAIR

I gcás go mbíonn carn bruscair ar mhaoin, cibé cúis atá leis sin, agus gur féidir an bruscar a fheiceáil ó áit
phoiblí, féadfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil fógra a eisiúint ar an úinéir nó áititheoir á cheangal air nó uirthi an
bruscar a thógáil as an áit go pras. Féadfar bearta réamhchúraim a leagan síos i bhfógra den sórt lena gcur
i bhfeidhm chun cosc a chur lena leithéid ó bheith ag tarlú arís. I gcás go dteipeann ar úinéir nó áititheoir
maoine nó go ndiúltaíonn úinéir nó áititheoir maoine gach rud a iarradh air nó uirthi a dhéanamh, tá de
chumhacht ag an gComhairle cibé is gá dóibh féin a dhéanamh, a dhéanamh agus a cheangal ar an úinéir
nó áititheoir na costais go léir a bheadh i gceist a íoc.

DUMPÁIL NEAMHDHLEATHACH
Thug na dlíthe bruscair níos mó cumhachtaí d’údaráis áitiúla dumpáil neamhdhleathach dramhaíola agus
bruscair a chomhrac. I gcás go dtiocfaidh an Chomhairle ar ábhar a dumpáladh go neamhdhleathach agus
go bhfaighidh siad amach cé hé nó cé hí úinéir an ábhair, beidh cás le freagairt ag an duine sin agus ní gá
go dtiocfaí ar an duine sin agus é nó í i mbun gnímh. Tá cumhachtaí breise ann trínar féidir le húdaráis
áitiúla a cheangal ar shealbhóirí tí nó ar dhaoine atá i mbun gnó a thaispeáint cén chaoi agus cén áit a
ndéanann siad an dramhaíl a bhíonn acu a dhiúscairt. Tá sé tábhachtach go háirithe mura bhfuil na
sealbhóirí tí nó na daoine atá i mbun gnó ag baint úsáide as seirbhís bhailithe bruscair nó ag tabhairt a
gcuid dramhaíola chuig ionad diúscartha údaraithe. Má fheiceann tusa duine ag dumpáil ábhair go
neamhdhleathach, cuir tuairisc chuig Rannán na Seirbhísí Comhshaoil a thabharfaidh faoi imscrúdú agus a
ghlacfaidh cibé gníomh forfheidhmithe is gá.

IMEACHTAÍ OLLMHÓRA
Ceanglaítear ar thionscnóirí nó eagraithe imeachtaí ollmhóra a chinntiú go mbíonn bearta rialaithe bruscair i
bhfeidhm acu ag an ionad agus sa chomharsanacht máguaird, roimh an imeacht agus lena linn agus ina
dhiaidh. Tá feidhm aige seo maidir le cluichí peile agus imeachtaí eile sóisialta agus spóirt ar a
bhfreastalaíonn sluaite móra. Is féidir go ndéanfadh an Chomhairle an obair seo ach beidh ar an tionscnóir /
eagraí na costais a bheidh i gceist a íoc.

SIOPAÍ SOGHLUAISTE BIA

Tá sé de dhualgas ar oibreoirí siopaí soghluaiste bia mar a ndíoltar mearbhia nó deochanna, nó ionaid eile
cosúil leo siúd ina ndíoltar táirgí feirme boscaí feiliúnacha bruscair a chur ar fáil in aice lena siopaí nó a n-
ionaid. Ní mór dóibh chomh maith bruscar ar bith a bhíonn ann mar thoradh ar fheidhmiú na siopaí/na n-
ionad a ghlanadh suas taobh istigh de limistéar 100 méadar óna siopa/ionad.

SALACHAR MADRAÍ
Ní mór d’úinéirí madraí an salachar a fhágann a madraí ina ndiaidh a ghlanadh as áiteanna poiblí anois
agus fáil réidh leis sa chaoi cheart. Tá feidhm ag an dualgas leis na háiteanna seo a leanas:

 Bóithre agus cosáin phoiblí

 Limistéir thart timpeall ar ionaid siopadóireachta

 Fearainn scoile/spóirt
  Páirceanna

 Spásanna Glasa faoin Aer

 An limistéar atá díreach thart timpeall ar theach dhuine eile

DO BHRUSCAR A CHUR AMACH LE BAILIÚ

Is mór an cuidiú é ó thaobh bruscar a chosc cúpla céim a ghlacadh roimh ré maidir leis an gcaoi a gcuireann
tú do bhruscar amach le bailiú. Is cóir araid rothaí a fhágáil ar thaobh an chosáin choisithe, agus an lámh a
bheith iompaithe i dtreo an bhóthair. Bíodh an clár dúnta go daingean agat i gcónaí. Is cóir bruscar a chur
amach le bailiú maidin lá an bhailiúcháin; ní cóir é a chur amach an lá ná an oíche roimhe sin. Dá fhad a
bhíonn sé fágtha amuigh le bailiú is ea is mó seans go dtarraingeoidh sé madraí, cait agus éin agus sin rud
nach mbíonn ag teastáil. Is cion é do bhruscar tí a chur isteach i mboscaí bruscar sráide.

IONAD CONLÁISTE CATHARTHA

Is féidir le sealbhóirí tí gur mian leo an bruscar breise tí a chur de láimh sin a dhéanamh ag Ionad Conláiste
Cathartha na Comhairle, Ascaill Bhaile an Mhóta, Baile Átha Cliath 24. Ní chosnaíonn sé ach fíorbheagán
an t-ionad a úsáid. Glactar saor in aisce le nithe in-athchúrsáilte agus le hearraí leictreacha, tá liosta iomlán
de na hábhair a nglactar leo le feiceáil ar www.southdublin.ie nó is féidir é a fháil ach glaoch ar 01 4621251.
Uaireanta Oscailte: Laethanta Saoire Bainc 09:30-17:00, Luan-Aoine 09:30-17:00, Sath 09:00-17:30, Domh
09:30-17:00
ATHCHÚRSÁIL
Tá bainc athchúrsála ‘beir leat’ suite ar fud fad Chontae Átha Cliath Theas agus freisin ag formhór na n-
ionad siopadóireachta.

nó is féidir an liosta iomlán a fháil ach dul isteach ar: www.southdublin.ie nó

www.dublinwaste.ie

CÉ A CHUIREANN NA DLÍTHE BRUSCAIR I BHFEIDHM?

Is iad na hÚdaráis Áitiúla atá freagrach as na dlíthe bruscair a chur i bhfeidhm taobh istigh de theorainn an
Chontae. Is é sin le rá go bhfuil siad freagrach as cosc agus rialú bruscair agus go bhfuil an chumhacht acu
gníomh forfheidhmithe a ghlacadh in aghaidh daoine a bhriseann nó a dhéanann beagchúram de na dlíthe
seo. Tá de chumhacht ag na Gardaí freisin fíneálacha ar an láthair a eisiúint as cionta bruscair.

PÓSTAEIR AGUS COMHARTHAÍ

Toirmisctear de réir dlí póstaeir/comharthaí a chur in airde ar chuaillí nó ar dhéanmhais eile in áiteanna
poiblí mura mbíonn cead faighte agat i scríbhinn roimh ré ó úinéir an chuaille nó an déanmhais eile na
póstaeir/comharthaí a chur in airde. Toirmisctear freisin bileoga fógraíochta a chur ar charranna, veaineanna
agus araile gan cead a bheith faighte ó úinéir na feithicle roimh ré.

CARR A THÓGÁIL AR SHIÚL

Tá seirbhís ag Comhairle Contae Átha Cliath Theas chun carranna a thógáil ar shiúl, ach táille a íoc. Má
theastaíonn níos mó eolais uait glaoigh ar 01 4149000 nó téigh isteach ar www.southdublin.ie

TÁ A THUILLEADH EOLAIS LE FÁIL ACH TEAGMHÁIL A DHÉANAMH LINN:

Seirbhísí Comhshaoil, Comhairle Contae Átha Cliath Theas, Halla an Chontae, Tamhlacht, Baile Átha Cliath
24.

Teileafón 01 4149000 nó Ríomhphost: info@sdublincoco.ie

www.southdublin.ie
www.dublinwaste.ie