Council issues bonfire materials warning

A LOCAL authority is urging members of the public to report people stockpiling bonfire material in the run up to Halloween.

Dublin City Council said it will be carrying out dozens of stockpiling raids and removing bonfire material between now and October 31 as part of its drive to promote a safe Halloween that all the community can enjoy.

Simon Brock, from the city council’s Waste Management Services section, said: “Dublin City Council is again putting in place an extensive action plan for the 2017 Halloween period. 

“We are asking members of the public to report incidents of stockpiling of bonfire material to us as soon as possible so we can remove the material and avoid the risk of serious injury and damage to our environment over the Halloween period.”

Dublin City Council removed in excess of 420 tonnes of bonfire materials during the Halloween period in 2016.

This was in response to 280 reports of stockpiling from members of the public through the various reporting channels in the council.  

It said the excellent cooperation received every year from An Garda Síochána is also essential to the success of these operations.

Dublin City Council pointed out that bonfires are illegal and is encouraging the public to report any stockpiled material in one of the following ways:

•Call Dublin City Council’s Litter Hotline on 1800 251 500 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)

•Call Dublin City Council’s Customer Services Centre on 01-222 2222 (Monday–Friday, 9am-5pm) or 01-679 6186 (evenings and weekends) or

•Log onto http://www.dublincity247.ie/ click on the link ‘Report Stockpiling of Bonfire Material’

Separately, Cllr Larry O’Toole (SF) is appealing to the small minority of residents who persist in dumping rubbish throughout local estates to stop. 

“Over the last couple of weeks local residents and community leaders have been picking up rubbish which had been dumped throughout the area,” he said. 

“It is shameful that people have to clean up after the small minority of residents who think that it is acceptable to just throw their rubbish all over their neighbourhood.

“I would appeal to the people responsible to please refrain from this anti-social practice. Think of the safety and well being of our communities, especially our children.”