Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Pure

13 tonnes of waste dumped over Wicklow and Dublin mountains after Christmas

Last year the Pure project removed 160 tonnes of illegal waste from these areas.

VOLUNTEERS HAVE REMOVED 13 tonnes of illegal waste that were dumped in the Wicklow/Dublin uplands in the first three weeks of this year.

The Pure project said the post-Christmas period has seen a lot of dumping in the county as it received over 70 reports since the start of 2019.

The Pure project is a partnership funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, established to combat fly-tipping in these areas. It has more than 1,000 volunteers who work to remove waste from the uplands.

Volunteers removed 13 tonnes of waste including mattresses, furniture, toys, bed frames and domestic waste.

Pure Project Pure Project

The project said there has been a general reduction in the amount of illegal dumping in these areas over the last two years, however. 

“I remember driving around the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands in 2007 and 2008 and being appalled at the amount of illegal dumping that I saw,” said Pure manager Ian Davis.

In 2008 Pure removed 436 tonnes of illegally dumped waste from the uplands, the largest amount of dumping we ever collected. Ten years later, in 2018, we removed 160 tonnes, which is a reduction of over 60%, the lowest amount we ever removed from the upland areas.

Pure Project Pure Project

Over the last two years the organisation has also installed CCTV units at a number of sites that were continually affected by dumpers.

Pure said the footage obtained clearly identified people involved in both littering, and illegal dumping and resulted in a number of people receiving fines. One case was also brought before the courts last year and resulted in a criminal prosecution and a large fine.

A number of other cases involving people caught on covert CCTV are currently under investigation by Wicklow County Council, and Pure said it is “confident that the local authority will proceed with court prosecutions this year”.

Pure Project Pure Project

“We will continue with our covert CCTV operations in 2019 and a number of locations that are continually affected by illegal dumping have already been selected for monitoring,” Davis said.

“We will be collaborating with, Wicklow County Council, Coillte, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and we are determined to catch those involved in illegal dumping and further reduce this environmental scourge.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
68 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Jim Jataa
    Favourite John Jim Jataa
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 10:58 AM

    Little known fact about the metal man.
    It was commisioned by lloyds of london, an insurance company in the early 1800′s
    An elegant dandy in tight white trousers with a limp wrist pointing downwards towards the rocks below was invaluable signal to gay seamen looking for a place where they could freely express their sexuality.The secluded Guillamene bathing area (famous for its man only sign which stands until this day) became particularly popular. The otherwise clandestine gay community had found a place where they could meet with like-minded people without being judged. The village of tramore, with its many watering holes and its proximity to the port of waterford became a haven for gay men and ‘loose’ women who could relax from the constraints of Victorian society.
    This unique history has been blotted out by the powers that be, its not a history they want associated with the town. i say, embrace it, celebrate it, recreate it……. it may just be the pull tourists are looking for……

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mogwa
    Favourite mogwa
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 1:33 PM

    I want this on a plaque in Tra.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ann-Marie Wallis
    Favourite Ann-Marie Wallis
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 9:30 AM

    Fantastic, really unique structures. I once read a history on the Metalman (apologies, I can’t remember the source) but I believe that similar metalmen were built on other points in Ireland and Britain to warn sailors of shallow waters.

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Kavanagh
    Favourite Mick Kavanagh
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 10:15 AM

    As far as I remember they were erected by really old insurance companies with the metal point pointing at areas of danger for incoming ships.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Kavanagh
    Favourite Mick Kavanagh
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 10:16 AM

    *man

    2
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bilbo Baggins
    Favourite Bilbo Baggins
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 10:53 AM

    He (in Tramore at least) points out to sea, as if telling on coming ships to turn around and return. Many ships used to mistake Tramore bay as the entrance to Waterford Harbour and run aground so the erected the metalman and his three pillars and two pillars on the brownestown head side to help ships identify that it was not the harbour.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mack
    Favourite Mack
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 11:03 AM

    Is there one out in sligo bay between the city and sailing club. Never knew Irish lights were responsible for them.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tomeenoldstock
    Favourite tomeenoldstock
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 11:16 AM

    Never knew Sligo was a city?

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Stephen Fitzpatrick
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 9:12 AM

    Never heard of it before

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bilbo Baggins
    Favourite Bilbo Baggins
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 10:05 AM

    Worth taking a trip down to have a look. The Tramore bay area and that Waterford coast from passage east across to Dungarvan and beyond is a beautiful little part of the country.

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Reginald Tower
    Favourite Reginald Tower
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 4:29 PM

    Metalman beer which is brewed in Waterford & named after the statue is also well worth a taste. It won the Irish craft beer of the year 2013. Top Notch. P.S. I don’t work for them :)

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Reginald Tower
    Favourite Reginald Tower
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 4:28 PM

    The Copper coastline from Tramore to Dungarvan is gorgeous. The whole area is an undiscovered gem. Stradbally must be one of the most beautiful villages in Ireland.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Horan
    Favourite Shane Horan
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 12:12 PM

    FYI “Irish Lights” isn’t a private company. The Commissioners of Irish Lights is a statutory (i.e. government) body.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Power
    Favourite John Power
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 11:17 AM
    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Wixted
    Favourite Shane Wixted
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 10:54 AM

    Looks like a serious bush drinking spot

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute L. Casei Immunitas
    Favourite L. Casei Immunitas
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 1:25 PM

    Three cigarettes with a subbuteo figure stuck on top. Knock em down and put in a McDonalds with a 24 hour drive-thru.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Ó Cinnéide
    Favourite Brian Ó Cinnéide
    Report
    Feb 21st 2013, 1:30 PM

    I came here for the lolz. The lolz were had.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Synnott
    Favourite Mike Synnott
    Report
    Feb 25th 2013, 7:57 AM

    I gave you a thumbs-up for your display name. I actually snorted out loud on the bus.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds