Physical Development Directorate Environment Department The Environment Section covers a broad area of activity including waste, litter, environmental awareness, pollution, water quality and veterinary services. The 2017 work programme was largely driven by an extensive regulatory framework. As one of the constituent members of the Southern Waste Region, Clare County Council is governed by the waste policy and objectives set out for the region in the Southern Region Waste Management Plan which was adopted in 2015.
Waste and litter management The enforcement priority areas during the year related to the following:-
Illegal dumping and littering;
Permitted waste facilities;
Waste tyres;
Food waste;
End-of-life or scrap vehicles.
In addition, work has focussed on the operation of the Presentation of Waste Bye Laws. Other enforcement activities carried out include monitoring of waste collection and facility permits and use of CCTV and mobile camera surveillance to counter illegal dumping and littering and unauthorised burning. Enforcement procedures of a judicial nature were continued in relation to unauthorised waste disposal. Checking for compliance with various wasterelated regulations concerning waste electrical equipment, waste batteries, plastic bags, solid fuel regulations (smoky coal) and farm plastics were also carried out by the Waste Regulation and Enforcement Section. Roadside checkpoints were carried out in conjunction with An Garda Síochána to check compliance of waste operators, create a visible waste enforcement presence, to identify and obtain information on illegal waste collectors and to increase public awareness.
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