By Róise Collins
COUNCILLORS in West Donegal have voiced their concern over the escalating issue of illegal dumping in the area, calling for stronger measures to tackle the problem.
Cllr Michael McClafferty expressed his frustration, stating that the situation has spiralled out of control.
“Respect has completely gone out the window, and it must be highlighted,” he told the Donegal News.
He shared that the types of waste being dumped range from large household appliances such as fridges, cookers, and televisions to mountains of soiled nappies.
Another serious concern is the frequent dumping of glass bottles from car windows along main roads, which poses a significant risk to both road users and animals.
He also highlighted a particularly disturbing incident in Falcarragh, where a dead dog was wrapped in blankets and left in a clothes bank. Cllr McClafferty called this act “cold and calculated.”
In response to the growing problem, McClafferty has called for tougher penalties, including higher fines for those caught illegally dumping, and the installation of additional CCTV cameras to help catch offenders.
Meanwhile, Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig shared a video showing a car pulling over to the side of the road and unloading bags of rubbish in Loch an Iúir.
“It’s not acceptable to dump rubbish in any community,” he said, stressing that a recycling facility is located nearby, just a short distance from the site of the illegal dumping.
While acknowledging the economic difficulties some families may be facing, Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig made it clear that these challenges do not justify such irresponsible behaviour.
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