Lo Call Number to report illegal dumping

Wednesday, 15th August 2012

An anti litter campaign to ‘Keep Ireland Clean’ was launched recently to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the Irish environment. The print media, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in conjunction with local authorities, the EPA and Fáilte Ireland are working together to highlight the damaging effects fly tipping and small scale illegal dumping have on our environment and. our economy, particularly on the tourism and agriculture sectors. Ireland’s tourism economy generates €5 billion each year so litter effectively damages not just our environment but our economy too.

A key part of this campaign is to promote the use of the Lo Call number available for reporting illegal dumping. So no matter where you are in the country, you can report illegal dumping by ringing 1850 365 121.

Launching this campaign, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government stated, "I am committed to providing support for anti-litter initiatives, both from an awareness and an enforcement perspective, in order to ensure that our country presents itself in the best manner possible. This campaign has been developed by the Department of Environment in conjunction with the local authorities, the EPA and Fáilte Ireland. It is crucial that we continue to foster an attitude amongst all our citizens that littering and fly tipping are unacceptable and that we create an awareness of the damaging effects these actions have on our environment, on society generally, and particularly on our economy and I would urge everyone to use the helpline to stamp out the blight of fly-tipping."

Paddy Mathews, Destination Development Manager of Fáilte Ireland added, "Our world famous scenery is the bedrock and raw material of tourism in Ireland. Litter is incredibly damaging to our landscape and yet it is entirely avoidable. It costs Ireland millions of Euros each year to clean up after those that dispose of litter irresponsibly and it puts our reputation as a clean, green holiday destination at serious and significant risk".

Compiled by Environmental Services & Planning, Waterford City Council. For further information contact Ella Ryan, Environment Awareness Officer, Menapia Building, The Mall, Waterford. Telephone: 051 849938. Website: http://www.waterfordcity.ie