Landlords are “incentivising” tenants to illegally dump waste around north inner-city Dublin, a local Green Party councillor has claimed.

On Newstalk Breakfast today, Janet Horner said this is occurring mostly in “overcrowded accommodations” and called for landlords to step up and “ensure a waste contract is in place”.

Dublin City Council currently collects up to 50 tonnes of illegally dumped waste every month.

North inner-city

Cllr Horner said it’s an “enormous problem” for the local authority.

“I think it’s even more enormous when it’s not just in the city itself, it’s just the central area – the north inner city specifically,” she said.

“We’ve known for a long time what’s worked in the suburbs for our waste collecting system, privatised waste does not work in the inner-city area.

“The problem is bad and it’s getting worse in terms of dumping.”

Full rubbish bags on the pavement. Picture by: Walkabout Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Cllr Horner said there’s no “silver bullet” solution to tackle illegal dumping.

“But one thing we are proposing and putting forward at the minute is making it a landlord’s responsibility to ensure a waste contract is in place,” she said.

“That’s a bill I’ve worked on with Neasa Hourigan, the Green Party TD for that area.

“It’s a waste contract, so it’s making sure you have that engagement with the private waste company.”

Landlords

The inner-city councillor said 99% of landlords and tenants are doing the right thing – but the problem lies with those who are not.

“The problem is we have this 1% that is resulting in the community as a whole being unhygienic, smelly, unpleasant, and making it very difficult for the rest of the community to live in a dignified way,” she said.

“They’re having to step over food waste and nappies on a daily basis.

“This isn’t about clamping down on people doing the right thing and making their life more difficult.

"In most cases, landlords are doing the right thing and this isn’t going to be any extra hassle for them.”

Rubbish dumped on Dalymount Lane in Phibsborough, Dublin, 11-04-2022. Image: RollingNews

Cllr Horner said in some situations it's impossible to keep track of waste.

“There is this 1% who we know are running multi-unit properties and renting them out to 20-30 people,” she said.

“It’s almost impossible to regulate a waste arrangement in those overcrowded accommodations.”

Municipal bins

Cllr Horner said municipal bins are another possible solution - but are years off from being in place.

“That is another issue we are trying to pursue," she said.

“But when you have EU competition law making it difficult to re-municipalise, we need to be looking at an interim solution.

“We want to take action now and do something that will make a difference to the lives of people who are fed up with living in an undignified and unhygienic way.”

Anyone caught dumping in Ireland risks an on-the-spot fine of €150 or a maximum fine of €4,000 if you are convicted in a District Court.

Main image: File photo shows a pile of rubbish bags. Picture by: PjrNews / Alamy Stock Photo