Alarming rise in illegal dumping across Kilkenny during Covid-19 crisis

There has been a sharp rise in the incidents of illegal dumping throughout Kilkenny during the Covid-19 emergency.

Kilkenny County Council has confirmed a rise in reports of illegal dumping since the coronavirus restrictions came into effect.

A spokesperson for the local authority told KilkennyNow.ie: “Illegal dumping around the county is noticeably on the increase.”

Pictures have emerged on social media in recent days showing all sorts of household waste – from discarded appliances, beer cans and takeaway cartons – dumped on the side of our roads.

The above picture shows discarded appliances, including a kettle and toaster, and other waste that was ripped open from black sacks of rubbish that were dumped at a laneway near the historic Clodiagh Church, between Inistioge and The Rower.

Similar instances have been reported in other parts of the country, amid fears some people are trying to save money on household waste during the Covid-19 crisis.

The council stressed that management services are currently operating as normal as it is deemed an essential service during the current emergency.

A spokesperson added: “It is hard to understand why at the present time people feel the need to go out of their way to dump illegally, leaving rubbish strewn over hedges and ditches.

“This appears to be people’s own practices, however, they were not doing it before the Coronavirus outbreak, so it is hard to explain why they are doing it now.”

The Environmental Enforcement section of Kilkenny County Council is dealing with each report of illegal dumping.

Anyone caught illegally dumping will face fines or prosecution.