A huge crackdown in Dublin to stop illegal transportation and dumping of rubbish was launched today.
The four Dublin authorities - Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin - have mounted the enforcement operation to combat dumpers working without legal collection permits and any householders providing the waste.
"We are trying to stop the illegal transportation of waste. Any waste that moves, any waste that is collected, it has to be done in accordance with a collection permit for that area," a spokeswoman for the Waste Enforcement Divisions of the four boroughs said.
"It is up to them to ensure the person they use to remove their waste has a valid permit."
The waste enforcement officers were out today stopping and examining trucks and cars for any illegal rubbish at a checkpoint on the M50 Dublin road near Finglas.
The majority of vehicles stopped were complying. There were some technical issues over the permits and some people pulled over had brought domestic waste to work to dump.
The four authorities have taken out advertisements in newspapers warning waste collectors, businesses and householders in Dublin to comply with the amended Waste Management Regulations of 2001.
Upon conviction a person could face a fine of up to €15 million and a prison term of up to ten years.