Calls for cameras to combat ‘unreal’ illegal dumping in Laois

Two local councillors have brought up dumping with Laois County Council

Published 2nd Jul 2026, 13:55 BST File photo. Two local councillors have brought up dumping with Laois County Council Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

Illegal dumping is “absolutely unreal” in parts of Laois, Laois County Council has heard.

Two local councillors raised problems with illegal dumping in Laois, particularly around the areas of Killeshin and Crettyard, at the June meeting of Laois County Council.

Crettyard Cllr Ben Brennan told the council that “dumping in our area is absolutely unreal.”

He particularly highlighted dumping near Oisin Park in Killeshin, where he said the community cannot get anything done to resolve the issue.

“We need cameras or some support. We need something done about it,” Cllr Brennan said.

With mattresses commonly dumped around Killeshin and Crettyard, Cllr Brennan called for a mattress amnesty in the area.

He pointed out that it has been years since there was such a collection in those areas which allows people to dispose of their old mattresses free of charge.

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The problem extends beyond these areas however, as Cllr Aisling Moran also sought some solution to illegal dumping in private fields during the meeting.

“Where people are dumping in someone’s field and then the council is not responsible for picking it up because it’s not in a public area, there has to be something we can do in relation to that. It's an expense being put onto people,” Cllr Moran said.

“There’s one case at the moment where we know where the dumping is coming from and it's going into a field and yet there’s nothing that can be done. They’re burning rubbish in this field as well. There’s a fire hazard and a health and safety issue there.”

In terms of enforcement, Laois County Council’s litter wardens and contractors have collected 56.86 tonnes of waste that has been dumped illegally between January and May of this year, the most up to date figures on record.

Although this figure is expected to be higher as just the litter wardens’ figures have been counted for May.

Laois County Council have issued just 43 fines during this period.