Frightening cost of councils Halloween clean up

DUBLIN City Council is braced for a whopping Halloween clean up bill of more than €500,000.

The city council confirmed to Northside People that last year the cost associated with the festival period was approximately €650,000. 

Cllr Sean Haughey, a Fianna Fáil candidate in Dublin Bay North for the general election,  described it as a “scandalous waste”.

Cllr Haughey pointed out that the money is badly needed for the city council’s services to the homeless, housing, elderly services and parks improvements. 

“Each year approximately 140 tonnes of material, mainly consisting of timber pallets, are collected by Dublin City Council crews from open spaces or other storage areas.

“A further 250 tonnes of burnt debris and shopping trolleys are collected after Halloween and these all have to be disposed of later.”

Cllr Haughey said further very substantial costs are involved in the reinstatement of burnt areas on football pitches, open spaces and on the tarmac pathways through parks. 

“Added to the above are the costs involved for cleansing crews from Dublin City Council’s waste management and housing divisions, local area services and gardaí, ambulance and fire services,” he stated. 

Cllr Haughey also criticised the “small number of businesses” that are continuing to dispose of their waste pallets and materials to those collecting for bonfires. 

“This is a handy way for them to get rid of surplus materials at no cost but they do not stop to think of the consequences of their actions and in a few cases couldn’t care less,” he said. 

Cllr Haughey believes the large number of fires now lit in parks and on open spaces in the run up to, and during the Halloween period itself, has got out of hand. 

“The mindless damage and pollution caused is rising all the time and the dangers to our young children and property is now a cause of very serious concern for all of us,” he said.  

“The mindless actions at Halloween also means that our gardaí, fire brigade and ambulance crews are at full stretch and our hospitals’ staff also bear the brunt of the thuggish and dangerous behaviour at these so called celebrations,” added Cllr Haughey.

Dublin City Council said it removed approximately 750 tonnes of bonfire materials last year, and it estimated that in excess of 1,500 tyres were collected. 

The city council is putting in place an extensive action plan for the 2015 Halloween period where the main focus will be on promoting a safe and enjoyable Halloween for Dublin citizens.

Various events and festivals will be held across the city.

Dublin City Council said it is also planning to minimise the impact of environmental and social consequences of bonfires and illegal fireworks through preventative actions and awareness raising activities.

A spokeswoman for the city council said the Halloween 2014 period passed off quite well with thousands of people enjoying the many local events organised. 

“However, there were a small number of unsavoury individual incidents which were a source of distress for members of staff and public,” she said.  

“The number of bonfires and emergency callouts were down on previous years and this can be attributed in no small measure to the excellent work by city council staff and the gardai.

“The co-ordinated efforts in removal of bonfire material in advance of Halloween high profile awareness activities and the increasing number of organised events are particular elements of the action programme which are working to very good effect.” 

Meanwhile, Dublin City Council is encouraging the public to report any stockpiled material in the run up to Halloween through:

Litter Hotline on 1800 251 500 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) 

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 24-hour National Environmental Complaints Line at 1850 365 121, or 

Log onto the Dublin City Council website and click on the link ‘Report Stockpiling of Bonfire Material’