The four Dublin local authorities have launched a crackdown on illegal waste activity, mounting roadblocks in Dublin yesterday morning to check for illegal operators.
Householders and businesses in the capital were also warned they could face prosecution through the courts, along with heavy fines, if they are found to be using illegal waste operators.
Yesterday's roadblock was the first operation of a new enforcement taskforce established by the Dublin local authorities to tackle illegal waste activity.
It comes amid evidence of continuing illegal waste activity, with waste from Dublin and other parts of the country having been found in various illegal dumping sites in Northern Ireland.
Legitimate waste operators have also been complaining about the operation of a large number of unlicensed operators who are undercutting legitimate operators by dumping illegally.
They have also complained that insufficient resources have been targeting illegal waste activity, which can be hugely profitable, netting operators up to 200 a tonne for each tonne of rubbish dumped illegally.
Industry experts have claimed that up to 750,000 tonnes, or up to a fifth of all commercial and municipal waste generated in Ireland, is being disposed of in some illegal form.
The Dublin taskforce will be investigating all aspects of illegal waste activity, and will be responsible for investigating all waste legislation under the responsibility of local authorities in the Dublin area.
This includes inspecting hazardous waste shipments, recycling and other collection sites, and waste companies to ensure they are complying with waste regulations.
The main area of focus will be a clamp-down on illegal waste shipments, where waste is being collected by operators in Dublin and is being dumped illegally in other counties in the Republic and also in Northern Ireland.
Yesterday's roadblocks, which were backed up by uniformed gardaí, were stopping vehicles carrying large amounts of waste to ensure they had proper waste collection permits.
No vehicle was impounded as a result of the checks.
However, the operation revealed that more than half the vehicles stopped had incorrect information on their permits.
Last week two trucks belonging to suspected illegal waste operators were seized in a similar roadblock operation.
The councils also posted advertisements in national newspapers yesterday warning businesses and homes they have a legal responsibility to ensure their waste is being collected by a licensed operator.
They could face jail terms or fines of up to €15 million if their waste is found to have caused serious pollution because of being dumped illegally, the advertisement warned.
The new enforcement team is being headed up by Ms Sonia Dean, a former official at Wicklow County Council, who led the investigation into the major illegal dumping sites uncovered in Wicklow three years ago.
"This is the first time a taskforce has been set up that is purely dedicated to enforcing waste legislation," she said.
Previously, waste enforcement has been a part-time job in local authorities, but the nature and seriousness of illegal activity necessitates a full-time enforcement regime, according to Ms Dean.
The taskforce is being funded by a 1 million grant from the Government's Environment fund, which has been built up from landfill levies and the 15 cent plastic bag tax.
There are five people now assigned to the Dublin taskforce, which is to double by the end of the summer.