MORE THAN 800 tonnes of rubbish have been taken from the Dublin and Wicklow mountains over the last year, the environmental initiative Protecting Uplands and Rural Environment (Pure) said yesterday.
The amount of rubbish removed equates to 114,000 standard black rubbish bags, according to the leaders of the project. It is funded by the Department of Environment and is supported by local authorities in Wicklow and Dublin.
Pure says it is collecting 30 tonnes a month "from one of the most spectacular areas of natural beauty in Ireland".
Fly-tipping by unprincipled builders and hauliers is the major problem in the uplands area, but the proximity of the Dublin and Wicklow suburbs and the rise in refuse charges have seen an increase in the instances of dumping of domestic rubbish.
Since 2007, the project has received more then 1,700 reports of illegal dumping, most of which were cleaned up using the initiative's own refuse truck.
According to project manager Ian Davis, some people claim that by collecting this rubbish, they are working for the culprits and just cleaning up after those who are responsible. However he maintained that "evidence shows that if illegally dumped rubbish is left on the landscape, it only attracts further dumping.
"We ensure a quick response to incidents of dumping and remove all of the material," Mr Davis added. "We are the first project of its kind in Ireland where all sites affected by dumping are recorded by global satellite positioning, and we are collecting important data on what type of material is being dumped, who is responsible for this dumping, and which areas are being severely affected."
Pure is now urging rural upland dwellers to get involved in the Pure Mile, a rural equivalent to the Tidy Towns competition. The Pure Mile encourages locals to enhance their immediate environment, including their natural and built heritage, and the general appearance of where they live.
Participants focus on a mile of road and with community effort, work to enhance it. "It has been extremely successful in other counties in Ireland and we are confident that the people will take part," Mr Davis said.
Pure has initiated a number of other moves to combat illegal dumping, including a public awareness campaign, a website - www.pureproject.ie - and a primary schools education pack, which was distributed to all schools in Wicklow, south Dublin and Dún Laoghaire.
The project is also supported by Coillte and the ESB which have lands in the mountain area.
Recently Pure embarked on a regional advertisement campaign to alert people to both unauthorised waste collectors and the effects illegal dumping has on the environment. A lo-call number to use in reporting illegal dumping has also been set up: 1850 365 121.
