Costly clean-up after soiled nappies and household items dumped at scenic tourist site
The illegal dumping incident occurred at Sailor’s Garden in Finnea on the shores of Lough Sheelin
Soiled nappies and household items were dumped in a scenic spot near Lough Sheelin, resulted in a costly clean-up for the local council.
The items, which included a large number of soiled nappies and other household items, were dumped close to a picnic table on the shoreline of the lake causing a risk to the wildlife and the general public.
"Sailor's Garden is a very scenic location that attracts a lot of visitors and is a location rich in biodiversity and wildlife.
"This will be a costly clean-up for the local authority, and will unnecessarily divert funding from other essential services provided by this council to the community," the spokesperson said.
In an effort to identify the perpetrators, council staff went through the waste by hand, which is time consuming, as well being deeply unpleasant and a health risk for those involved, the spokesperson outlined.
To combat the ongoing issue of illegal dumping, Westmeath County Council’s Environment staff continue to generate awareness around the damaging impacts of illegal dumping including the unlawful disposal of waste by unlicensed waste collectors.
The Council would urge the public to be vigilant and should they see any suspicious activity, they would be advised to contact [email protected] or by freephone 1800 819 000.
The local authority also advised people to always be sure to only dispose of your waste to licensed waste collectors.