Waste and Litter

WasteWaste and litter are problems that affect most major cities including Dublin. They are different to other global problems as they result entirely from our own doing. Despite the work of local authorities, a large portion of the country’s waste ends up as unsightly litter on the streets, roadsides, open countryside and waterways.

The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a campaign entitled Dump the Dumpers where members of the public can report illegal dumping via a 24 hour lo-call telephone number 1850 365 121. Local authorities, the gardaí and the EPA will follow up on the information provided by the public, as appropriate.

The total amount of waste collected in Ireland is estimated to be over 2 million tonnes per year. The way in which we deal with this has a direct impact on the environment. Waste that cannot be reused, composted or recycled needs to be disposed of safely. The amount of landfill sites available are decreasing rapidly every year. The only alternative is to educate people on waste prevention and minimisation.

We can all help reduce the amount of waste by minimising the amount we produce, and the waste that cannot be reused may be recycled or composted. Waste that cannot be reused, recycled or composted needs to be disposed of safely. In Dublin, the four local authorities have made a Replacement Waste Management Plan 2005-2010. The plan aims towards achieving 59% recycling, 25% incineration and 16% landfill.

Links and Resources

  • composting-waste Composting
    Composting is a natural process whereby micro-organisms transform organic waste materials into a soil-like product called humus. Kitchen scraps, leaves and... more »
  • DCC Dublin City Council
    Dublin City Council officially transferred its waste collection business to Greyhound Recycling and Recovery on Monday,16th January 2012... more »
  • DublinWaste.ie DublinWaste.ie
    DublinWaste.ie is the interactive waste management website for householders in the Dublin Region. The website features the latest waste news from Dublin as well as a host of on-line features.more »
  • European Environmental Agency European Environment Agency
    The EEA aims to support sustainable development and to help achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe's environment through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant... more »
  • Office of Environmental Enforcement Office of Environmental Enforcement
    The core objectives of the Office of Environmental Enforcement are to bring about improved compliance with environmental legislation in Ireland and to ensure that those who flout environmental law... more »
  • greyhound recycling Greyhound Recycling & Recovery
    Greyhound is Ireland's most progressive waste management company. It does not own landfill nor does it believe that landfill provides a sustainable solution to Ireland's waste volumes going forward..more »
  • Race against Waste Race Against Waste
    Race Against Waste is the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government’s campaign to raise awareness of waste issues and change behaviour among people at home. more »
  • Repak Repak
    Repak is Ireland’s first voluntary initiative between industry and the Department of the Environment designed to meet industry’s producer responsibility obligations under the EU directive.. more »

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