Waterford City Council currently employs two full-time Litter Wardens, a temporary Litter Warden and an Environmental Enforcement Technician/Complaints Coordinator.
It is their responsibility to enforce "The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 - 2003", along with "The Waste Management Acts 1996 - 2007", "The Protection of the Environment Act 2003", "The Air Pollution Act 1987" and "The Casual Trading Act 1995".
Their duties include:
- Issuing on-the-spot fines and investigating litter offences. Litter Wardens patrol the city each day, on foot and by van.
- Abandoned Vehicles - Taking appropriate action to find the owner and ultimately removing abandoned vehicles.
- Illegal Burning - attending to the scene of illegal backyard burning and taking appropriate action.
- Illegal Dumping/Fly Tipping – in the suburban areas of Waterford City and country lanes.
- Waste held in back/front gardens – inspecting premises for illegally held waste.
- Check Points – Stopping vehicles with the assistance of the Gardai to investigate illegal waste collection and illegal waste transportation.
Offences
The main offences under "The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 - 2003" include littering, illegal dumping, flyer posting, abandon cars and dog fouling, as shown below.
On-the-spot fine for a litter offence: €150
Maximum fine in court: €3,000
Dog Fouling
Dog owners must remove their pet's waste from any public area and dispose of it in a proper manner. There is an On the Spot Litter Fine of €150 for dog fouling.
Cigarette Butts
It is an offence to throw a cigarette butt on the ground. Once extinguished, these must be placed in an appropriate litter bin. On the Spot Litter Fines of €150 can be issued.
Shop Owners
It is the shop owner's responsibility to keep the area in front of their shop clean. Failure to do so may result in prosecution with fines up to €3000.
Landlords
It is a landlord's duty to provide his/her premises with a means of disposing waste. A rented premise is considered to be a type of business and the landlord can therefore be prosecuted if there is litter on the premises or waste stored in a garden.
Drivers
It is an offence to throw litter from a vehicle, including cigarette butts. An On the Spot Litter Fine of €150 can be issued
Skips
Skip owners or those in charge of skips will have to meet specific requirements to avoid prosecution. It is an offence under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 – 2003 to allow litter to fall from a skip whether stationary or in transit. If bags are left in a skip that you have rented, do not remove them; call the Litter Wardens (051-309900) immediately and they will photograph and check for evidence. Please ensure if renting a skip that it has a cover with a lock to secure waste and stop illegal dumping into skips
Signs
Posters/Signs and Sandwich Boards must not be placed on public areas or on poles or other structures in a public place, unless you have prior permission from the owner of that pole/structure. On the Spot Litter Fines of €150 can be issued.
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