Illegal dumping blights suburb

THE GROWING problem of illegal dumping is causing major concern for businesses and residents in Clondalkin, a local councillor has revealed.

According to Sinn Fein councillor Mark Ward, the dumping is “highly visible” in the area and it’s having a particular impact on people within the Bawnogue community, a small suburb west of Clondalkin.

“I went out to have a look at the area and you could see that there were at least 20 areas of illegal dumping on the side of the road,” Cllr Ward told the Southside People.

“It’s been going on for God knows how long because I’ve been out a couple of times and it seems to be every week that this is happening, especially over the weekend.

“Everybody in the community is affected by it,” he added. “There’s a very small percentage of people in Bawnogue who are doing this and it’s affecting the whole area. 

“I don’t know if it’s a cultural thing, if it’s people being charged for their waste disposal, or if they just can’t afford it anymore and they are looking at this as an alternative way of getting rid of their rubbish. 

“But even if there are some people who can’t afford it they still need to be responsible for how they get rid of their waste.”

Lisa Howell, who has lived in Bawnogue for the last four years, said that the issue of illegal dumping has always been present in the area but that the problem has deteriorated in recent months.

“It’s been lingering now for a while but recently it’s been getting a hell of a lot worse,” she stated.

“I find that people seem to be doing it more frequently and they’re dumping in much bigger amounts.

“It has also created a problem with rats in the area.

“And it’s not only bags of rubbish that are being left out,” Lisa pointed out.

“There are people who are also putting out bits of broken beds and furniture and leaving them strewn all over on the main roads. 

“If you drive down the road on the canal in Bawnogue you can see the whole left side covered in rubbish.

“And the whole way up the road near the shops it’s the same thing. 

“It’s not everybody that’s doing it, it’s a small minority,” Lisa added.

“But it goes without saying that it’s looking bad for everybody and it’s causing a problem for everybody.”

According to Cllr Ward, a council report will be issued at the end of September addressing the issue of illegal dumping in the greater Clondalkin area with a specific emphasis on its prevalence in Bawnogue.