Aengus Ó Maoláin, Social Democrats representative for Castleknock and Blanchardstown, has called on Fingal County Council to take on responsibility for recycling used car tyres for a trial period at its depot in Coolmine as one possible step to address the scourge of illegal dumping in Dublin 15.
Hundreds of fish were killed today due to a sewage blockage in the Tolka caused by an illegally dumped tyre in Mulhuddart. This is the third major pollution event in the river since 2014.
Ó Maoláín said: “This is a disaster. Someone dumps a tyre in the Tolka, the tyre blocks a sewer, the sewer overflows into the river, hundreds of fish die, the river stinks to high heaven, and becomes unsafe for the community.
“Illegal dumping is a serious issue. More CCTV, more fines and more policing of dumping sites are all necessary, but they don’t solve the source of this problem.”
“Tyres are a pain to get rid of legally and the Coolmine recycling depot won’t take them. The Estuary recycling depot in Swords won’t take them either. The garage where you got them may charge you an arm and a leg for taking them, or turn you away. Farmers aren’t allowed to keep them anymore, and the companies that do take them for their own uses are limited in how many they can cope with.”
Calling on the council to consider as a trial taking in tyres free of charge at its depot in Coolmine, and to recycle them in bulk on behalf of the population, Ó Maoláin added:
“Ironically, it’s easier to deal with used tyres if you have hundreds of them, than if you have one.”
ENDS
20 July 2017