Council to install CCTV at Dublin bring centres to crackdown on illegal dumping

As part of a major anti-litter drive, Dublin City Council are expanding CCTV surveillance and raising on-the-spot fines

News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 16:10, 31 Jul 2026 View Image Dumping at the bring centre at Seamus Ennis Road (Image: Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North West, Paul McAuliffe)

Dublin City Council are installing CCTV cameras at bring centres within the next “two to three months” to deter illegal dumping.

Executive Manager for Environment, Climate & Urban Resilience Derek Kelly updated representatives on the plan at Wednesday's Climate Action and Urban Resilience SPC. The aim of this initiative is to “reduce illegal dumping, improve the cleanliness and safety of bring‑bank locations, support enforcement activity where necessary, and enhance the overall recycling experience for users”.

A pilot project was carried out in the North Inner City in 2025 and Mr Kelly explained the next stage is to bring surveillance to centres across the city. Poles have already been installed and the use of CCTV is “imminent”. The final stage is a Data Protection Impact Assessment before approval from the Chief Executive is sought.

Mr Kelly revealed that this initiative forms part of a larger effort to address littering across the city. He said the council are in the process of revising their by-laws around litter and the presentation of waste to address those who have found “loopholes” in the system, such as leaving their wheelie-bins out on the street seven days a week under the pretence of a daily bin collection service.

He said people are gaming the system because “they don’t want to store waste inside or in their yards" and that steps are being put in place to “change that”. Ultimately, he said a change in by-laws will be presented to council members in “due course”.

Another measure is an increase in on-the-spot fines for littering and dog fouling , which are set to go from €150 to €250 with the introduction of the Environment(Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. Mr Kelly spoke about the importance of everyone doing their part to keep the city clean stating that the hard work of street cleaners can be swiftly undone by those who carelessly litter.

“Cleanliness is for a moment in time. Two seconds later somebody can destroy a street,” he said. Mr Kelly stressed “the public have a huge part to play” and that they are increasing “sanctions for non-compliance”.

Green Party Councillor Claire Byrne welcomed all the work being done towards waste management across Dublin city and said it’s understand the “constant narrative that the city is still dirty ” frustrates the waste team. “But it is, it’s better but it’s still dirty,” she said, calling for a “cultural shift toward waste and litter”.

“I can never understand how people can feel the city is a dumping group. The casual littering we have is mind boggling. Increase in fines and enforcement is critical, but it’s not the first time enforcement has been raised over the years.”

Cllr Byrne said it's important that the increase in fines is prepared with staff being adequately prepared to enforce them. “We need to send a strong signal that we are taking this seriously in the city,” she said.

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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