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THE Council is telling householders to ensure the person taking their waste has a waste collection permit, or they could be fined up to €5,000.
Kerry County Council is this week launching a publicity campaign to raise awareness amongst the public about the hazards of giving waste over to anyone who does not have a waste collection permit.
Several incidents occurred this year in Kerry where members of the public handed over their waste to an unauthorised waste collector who went on to dump that waste in the countryside.
The waste was traced back to the original owner by Kerry County Council litter wardens and the householder was fined for illegal dumping.
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Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Norma Foley said: “People involved in the collection of waste are required to have a waste collection permit. This ensures that they are responsible and that the waste is going to an authorised waste facility. Householders, who may be acting unwittingly and with the best of intentions, have a legal obligation to only give their waste to an authorised collector.
‘Waste is anything you discard, whether it has a value or not. Unfortunately, unauthorised waste collectors often engage in illegal dumping, but it is the householder who is responsible if their waste is disposed of illegally and the waste is traced back them,” she said.
The publicity campaign includes an online video on the Council’s YouTube channel, local advertising and a social media campaign.
Environmental Awareness Officer with Kerry County Council, Oonagh O’Connor said: “Before you give waste to anyone, ask to see their waste collection permit. This permit will show a list of the waste types the contractor is allowed to carry. Check that the waste you are disposing of is on this list.
“Authorised waste collection vehicles must have the name of the waste company and waste collection permit number on them. Any advertisements published by an authorised waste collector must also give their name and waste collection permit number,” said Oonagh.
The council has pointed out that social media is often the method used by unauthorised waste collectors to advertise their service.
“If you come across an advertisement for an unauthorised waste collection service on social media platforms, Kerry County Council recommends that you take a screen shot of the ad and send it on to its Environment Section for further investigation,” said Oonagh.
If you have been canvassed by an unauthorised waste collector to take away your waste please call 066 7162000. You can find more information on the National Waste Collection Permit Office’s website,www.nwcpo.ie.
