Litter & Visual Pollution on the Motorway Network

fresca · 14-04-2010 3:15pm

seems like Sarah Carey, writing in the Irish Times, picked up on the volume of litter in the country...
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0414/1224268309174.html

munchkin_utd · 14-04-2010 5:19pm

Its not just motorways that are a sham.

I had the "pleasure" of clocking up 2500 km over the past 2 weeks on holiday in Ireland north and south.

From my travels the 2+1 from Monaghan to Castleblaney was by FAR the worst road for litter and the most of it concentrated in the little lay bys along the road. Its a pity i never took a picture.

Aside from litter, it is astounding how much tyre debris is left lying about the new road network both motorways and N roads.
The litter is an eyesore but 3/4 of a lorry tyre lying just beside the overtaking lane on a motorway is just damn dangerous.
I was thinking of reporting it but I wouldnt have made much progress if i was to stop and note down each offending bit of debris!!

It was a pleasure though to behold how well the DOE roads service looks after the roads in Northern Ireland. Pity the south couldnt achieve similar standards.

sdanseo · 15-04-2010 12:38am

munchkin_utd wrote: »

It was a pleasure though to behold how well the DOE roads service looks after the roads in Northern Ireland. Pity the south couldnt achieve similar standards.

Pity that aside from the litter situation, their roads are in tatters compared to ours. Bad to non-existent lining, loose or worn surfaces almost inconsistently around Fermanagh last time I was up there last week.

What ROI needs anyway is a Motorway Maintenance body similar to the UK Highways Agency, seems to work very well over there.

busman · 15-04-2010 11:01am

A COMPANY is about to make history by "adopting a road" in Co Cork — spending €10,000 a year to keep it litter free.

From the Examiner :

http://irishexaminer.ie/ireland/firm-adopts-a-road-to-fight-litter-117250.html

nordydan · 15-04-2010 11:39am

sdonn wrote: »

Pity that aside from the litter situation, their roads are in tatters compared to ours. Bad to non-existent lining, loose or worn surfaces almost inconsistently around Fermanagh last time I was up there last week.

I have to agree with this, some of the roads around east Down (Downpatrick) are absolutely disgraceful and worse than anything I've seen in the Republic during the last few months. Only the A roads in and out of the town are up to scratch

emfifty · 16-04-2010 10:08am

noticed the kildare town bypass much cleaner than usual. must have done a litter control in last few weeks due to fine weather...

agreed on highways agency equivalent. needs to happen asap.

dRNk SAnTA · 16-04-2010 5:44pm

Joint Committee On Transport Debate, 7 April 2010 with the NRA, the litter problem was talked about. Read the whole thing here.

Deputy Shane McEntee (FG) wrote:

My office wrote to the NRA ten days ago about the appalling litter problem on the Ashbourne bypass. We received an immediate response. It was clear responsibility would be transferred to Meath County Council within 12 months, but the staff of the NRA cleared litter on the Dublin side and moved on. Is there any way the NRA could catch the culprits? It is the most ugly site as one enters County Meath. I am aware that we have our problems in the county with dumping on bogs. The NRA has started a clean-up and it makes a difference. People contact us to state that they appreciate the quick response. Cameras have been put in place and while I appreciate they are expensive, if two or three people caught dumping rubbish on the Ashbourne bypass were made an example of, it would act as a deterrent throughout the country. In spring our main roads and their shrubberies are a lovely sight, but it is just unreal if one goes down the Ashbourne bypass at the moment. I would appreciate a quick response.

Mr Fred Barry (of the NRA) wrote:

Litter presents a huge problem throughout the country, including the Ashbourne bypass. The sides of national and non-national roads are a disgrace. We have very limited funds in our maintenance budget, which is where litter removal is funded from. More than ever this year, the maintenance budget has been used to pay for snow and ice removal and the repair of damage done by snow and ice. Moneys available to local authorities to clean up roads are extremely limited this year and there is no magic wand available. We do not have the money to give to local authorities. We are not stating they have enough to do the job. We will work with them to do the best that can be done with the money available but short of receiving extra funding - I have no reason to expect there will be extra funding available - we can do what we can; we simply have to exhort people to stop throwing their litter around the place.

Chairman (Frank Fahey, FF) wrote:

Is litter being thrown out of car windows?

Mr. Fred Barry (of the NRA) wrote:

Yes; people throw bags of litter at the sides of dark roads at night.

Deputy Shane McEntee (FG) wrote:

There are even beds thrown out. One could sleep on the Ashbourne bypass.

Mr. Fred Barry wrote:

Waste from houses is thrown out, including old bath tubs.

Chairman (Frank Fahey, FF) wrote:

Would it be possible to place CCTV cameras or take other preventive measures where there is a serious littering problem? I take it there are sanctions and fines for those caught littering, particularly on national primary roads or motorways.

Mr. Fred Barry (of the NRA) wrote:

I am sure some people are being fined, but I do not hear much about it. It is a matter for the Garda to prosecute.

Chairman (Frank Fahey, FF) wrote:

Surely if several high profile cases were prosecuted, it would have a preventative effect. An effort could be made to catch people out.

Mr. Fred Barry (of the NRA) wrote:

We would be delighted to see that happen and would be strongly support any such initiative.

murphaph · 16-04-2010 8:33pm

The answer lies in detecting and SEVERELY punishing the culprits. It's an afront to society which really gets my goat. I would punish this and vandalism etc. with a couple of weeks in prison, even for a first offence.

mike65 · 16-04-2010 8:39pm

How are the verges of the N8 leaving Cork these days? The section just after the roundabout as you go up the hill was festooned in what was probably many years worth of litter when I drove that road in the past.

Re the N25 the Wexford section mentioned earlier, yep they do a good job keeping it trimmed, tidy and clean.

L1011 · 16-04-2010 8:42pm

emfifty wrote: »

agreed on highways agency equivalent. needs to happen asap.

We have one, its called the NRA... extend their powers rather than form ANOTHER QUANGO.

Solair · 16-04-2010 10:34pm

Simple : if you're caught littering you should get a community service order cleaning motorway verges.

A weekend with a high vis jacket, a rubbish lifting tongs and a black bag would be quite a serious deterrent.

Don't show up : €1000 fine.

emfifty · 17-04-2010 9:03pm

MYOB wrote: »

We have one, its called the NRA... extend their powers rather than form ANOTHER QUANGO.

well as fred barry (NRA) says, "there's no funding" so they aint bothered. it looks like most road management contracts are going to the private sector anyway which is probably a good thing. e.g. M50 concession now responsible for maintenance on the m50.

emfifty · 17-04-2010 9:05pm

Solair wrote: »

Simple : if you're caught littering you should get a community service order cleaning motorway verges.

A weekend with a high vis jacket, a rubbish lifting tongs and a black bag would be quite a serious deterrent.

Don't show up : €1000 fine.

great idea.:)

sdanseo · 18-04-2010 1:11am

MYOB wrote: »

We have one, its called the NRA... extend their powers rather than form ANOTHER QUANGO.

Take that point actually, make them the highways agency as it were. Fleet of vehicles and authorised officers is all they need, one or two million would sort the issue.

GeneHunt · 22-04-2010 9:18pm

murphaph wrote: »

The answer lies in detecting and SEVERELY punishing the culprits. It's an afront to society which really gets my goat. I would punish this and vandalism etc. with a couple of weeks in prison, even for a first offence.

Prisons aren't places for people who dump rubbish....

Solair wrote: »

Simple : if you're caught littering you should get a community service order cleaning motorway verges.

A weekend with a high vis jacket, a rubbish lifting tongs and a black bag would be quite a serious deterrent.

+1, it is a great idea.:)

A weekend for the first offence, second offence 5 weeks cleaning road side verges, and so on....

I wouldn't have a high vis jacket but a high vis jump suit and they should be picked up from their door by a mini bus with appropriate signage! So the neighbourhood all get the message too!

Some of the rubbish (full black bags) on the M2 (Ashbourne bypass) looks like they were dumped systematically - ie about 50 meters apart, which to me indicates a vehicle (possibly a van) driven by one person and another in the back throwing bag after bag out the side door....

IMO the problem could stems from the recession and people can't afford the bin charges on top of all the other repayments... so I disagree that it's down to a 2 or 3 euro charge at recycle centres...

furtzy · 23-04-2010 10:52am

GeneHunt wrote: »

Some of the rubbish (full black bags) on the M2 (Ashbourne bypass) looks like they were dumped systematically - ie about 50 meters apart, which to me indicates a vehicle (possibly a van) driven by one person and another in the back throwing bag after bag out the side door....

These are actually the bags of rubbish that the councils/NRA have collected from the verges. They just haven't bothered to remove them yet....strange I know

murphaph · 23-04-2010 12:34pm

GeneHunt wrote: »

Prisons aren't places for people who dump rubbish....

Even for repeat offenders?

I consider littering, vandalism etc. to be an attack on society, ie, all of us, so should receive serious punishments.

d4v1d · 23-04-2010 12:54pm

murphaph wrote: »

Even for repeat offenders?

I consider littering, vandalism etc. to be an attack on society, ie, all of us, so should receive serious punishments.

while i certainly detest littering i wouldn't ever consider it an offence punishable by a prison sentence. lets not allow violent/sexual offenders walk about the streets because a bed was taken by someone that threw some rubbish away.

people caught littering should be given a public service order to clean up litter. give them the option of a fine with a record or public service with no record and then we'd start seeing some places getting cleaned up.

what i would see changed is that people who smash glass in public areas to be not given the option, they get a fine and public service with a record. i hate litter but i despise broken glass on the streets.

the biggest problem is mainly down to how the waste issue is handled. for as long as people have to pay to get rubbish removed, they will look for cheaper alternatives. if the cost of waste was included in our taxes it would mean that poeple wouldn't have the excuse that it was to save money. i find it hilarious in this country that we get water, which costs the state millons, for free yet we have the pay to get rubbish removed. it's a completely failed policy that is destroying our countryside.

and there will always be ignorant people that just throw something out the car window. but if we can cut down on the black bags it would be a start.

GeneHunt · 23-04-2010 2:50pm

d4v1d wrote: »

i find it hilarious in this country that we get water, which costs the state millons, for free yet we have the pay to get rubbish removed. it's a completely failed policy that is destroying our countryside.

Free water is coming to an end!:(

this link below is from RTE News on Monday last

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0419/environment.html

murphaph · 23-04-2010 4:35pm

d4v1d wrote: »

the biggest problem is mainly down to how the waste issue is handled. for as long as people have to pay to get rubbish removed, they will look for cheaper alternatives. if the cost of waste was included in our taxes it would mean that poeple wouldn't have the excuse that it was to save money. i find it hilarious in this country that we get water, which costs the state millons, for free yet we have the pay to get rubbish removed. it's a completely failed policy that is destroying our countryside.

Paying for waste removal is standard in many places, including really clean places like Switzerland. If people didn't have to pay for this, there would be no incentive to recycle etc. so it does serve a purpose. The problem is that littering has not been seen as a serious offence for so long, that it continues. No real effort is made to find the culprits.

L1011 · 23-04-2010 5:49pm

Saw street sweepers doing the H/S of the Kildare BP and the outer lane / median strip of Cashel-Mitchelstown (guarded by a rolling roadblock and three vans with lane close signs behind it) on Thursday - first time I've seen this done!

munchkin_utd · 26-04-2010 9:12am

whilst not focusing exclusively on Motorways, the NRA is getting a slap on its wrists for the mountains of litter on the nations roads.

Key tourist routes blighted by litter - survey
Monday, 26 April 2010 07:46
A new survey on litter has found that key routes for tourists are being ruined by large amounts of rubbish.

The survey by Irish Business Against Litter described Dublin's airport road as 'an appalling sight', routes in and out of Cork city as litter blackspots and the route to Shannon airport as 'heavily littered'.

Surveyors from An Taisce also called the capital's Port Tunnel 'an eyesore'.

Fáilte Ireland has said this litter problem poses a serious threat to the credibility of our clean, green image as a tourist destination.

This new survey paints a worrying picture for our tourism industry, because the first thing visitors see is large amounts of litter.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0426/litter.html

damoz · 26-04-2010 10:05am

I did hear them on the radio this morning, and am glad its getting some attention. I emaied the NRA, Bord Failite and Cork Coco about the M8. Bord Failte said they would raise the matter with the NRA. The NRA and the CoCo said they dont have any money !

I agree with the one off deep clean followed by strick enforcement and punishment for offenders. As i posted before i would also have some scheme where long term unemployed would do some community service in order to keep their benefits. This would reduce the cost of maintainance, and give them some incentive to get out and work.

GeneHunt · 26-04-2010 11:15pm

Mary Wilson - Drivetime RTE radio one this evening also covered this subject, I didn't hear all of the report yet, just the end of it, the report is on from 6.30 till 7pm ( 6.50pm I caught the it)

Drivetime link, (note this link is only available till next Monday...)

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/player_av.html?0,null,200,http://dynamic.rte.ie/quickaxs/209-r1-drivetime-Monday.smil

and the news report link

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0426/litter.html

mysterious · 26-04-2010 11:33pm

If everyone made an effort to clean things up (despite the few irresponsible minded) things would improve greatly.

All you need to do is focus on your local area, and the next person focuses on his or her local area.

If anyone rubbishes on motorways, give them a 2000 euro fine if cot. Also gardai should penalise anyone on the spot cot littering. More signs should be put on motorways "no littering"

And every little helps too. By informing others not to litter and teaching your children the principles of been respectful and tidy with nature.

Ban Ki Moon · 27-04-2010 12:19am

As our national debt increases (due mainly to bank bail-outs) the government will see operating motorways as costly.Their solution will be to sell off this infrastructure to private companies to operate,thus,implement tolls.

M7 from Dublin to Portlaois is a big target !

mysterious · 27-04-2010 12:30am

Ban Ki Moon wrote: »

As our national debt increases (due mainly to bank bail-outs) the government will see operating motorways as costly.Their solution will be to sell off this infrastructure to private companies to operate,thus,implement tolls.

M7 from Dublin to Portlaois is a big target !

Em no. What is this got to do with littering? There will be no toll on this section of route, unless of course you want to give money to it. Which I believe is just getting a bit to naive in this actual topical debate.

BluntGuy · 27-04-2010 1:39pm

mysterious wrote: »

If anyone rubbishes on motorways, give them a 2000 euro fine if cot. Also gardai should penalise anyone on the spot cot littering. More signs should be put on motorways "no littering"

Take it a step further, "No Littering - €500 FINE" signage. And even though I don't agree with laybys on motorways, since they're there, and since they're littering hotspots they should have operational CCTV. We're not going to catch everyone this way, but if even a few people start getting caught, the message will eventually catch on. Even less expensively, they could provide a bin or two!

KevR · 27-04-2010 1:50pm

BluntGuy wrote: »

Take it a step further, "No Littering - €500 FINE" signage. And even though I don't agree with laybys on motorways, since they're there, and since they're littering hotspots they should have operational CCTV. We're not going to catch everyone this way, but if even a few people start getting caught, the message will eventually catch on. Even less expensively, they could provide a bin or two!

Agree about bins and CCTV in rest areas until the MSAs are open.

They have these signs in Galway City. Granted, there is nowhere near enough enforcement to backup these signs but it's a start. I think if you get caught littering you can either pay an on-the-spot fine of €70-90 (not sure exactly) or you could end up paying a €1,900 fine if you refuse the on-the-spot fine.

mrrepublic · 01-02-2011 12:01am

I traveled the PPP section of motorway M7/M8 on two occassions last week and this was the only motorway in which I saw any litter picking activities

Amtmann · 01-02-2011 12:13am

mrrepublic wrote: »

I traveled the PPP section of motorway M7/M8 on two occassions last week and this was the only motorway in which I saw any litter picking activities

That's one of the best maintained sections I think.

runway16 · 02-02-2011 12:15am

E-mail the operating companies and councils. If they get enough e-mails, they might do something. The M50, and in particular, M50SB TO N4OB, M50SB TO N7OB, and M50SB to N3OB are a disgrace. I sent an email to m50 company, not even a reply.... maybe strength of numbers might do it?

Solair · 02-02-2011 7:08pm

I am regularly seeing trucks carrying recycling with no top cover.
This seems to go a long way to explaining why light household waste i.e. cardboard packaging is ending up strewn everywhere.

There's definitely some littering involved too, but the recycling industry needs to get its act together and have properly enclosed vehicles too!

Litter & Visual Pollution on the Motorway Network

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