There has been a “massive increase in illegal dumping” across Ireland in recent months, an environmental group has warned.
Ian Davis of Protecting Uplands and Rural Environments (PURE) said his organisation has been combating illegal dumping in the Dublin and Wicklow uplands since they were founded in 2006.
In 2007, the group collected 360 tons of illegal waste and by 2023 that figure dropped to 123 tons.
However, last year, the group cleared away 146 tons.
“We record everything on GPS and we also see that other locations in Ireland, they’re saying they’re seeing a massive increase in illegal dumping,” Mr David told The Pat Kenny Show.
Report Dumping in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands to Pure at info@pureproject.ie @Dept_ECC @WicklowUplands @wicklowcoco pic.twitter.com/sy0Xdj0uqu
— Pure Project (@PureProject1) May 12, 2025
Mr Davis said that “illegal dumping is everywhere, unfortunately” and that even the most scenic of places are not immune to illegal dumping.
“Last year, in a beautiful location in Wicklow near Rathdrum, it was an amazing site with a fully wooded area and natural woodland,” he recalled.
“There was 8,000 kilos in that one site - that’s eight tons.
“Someone demolished a conservatory and it was full of bricks, motor, window frames, glass, soil - and that’s one location.
“Then you can have a black bag up in the mountains, two black bags or mattresses dumped on the roadways, toys, prams - all types of material we’re finding in these areas.”
Well done to ALL of the Ballyremon Commons Pure Mile Volunteers – Another great cleanup event – 3 Pure Truck Collections already this Year Fantastic Result @Dept_ECC @wicklowcoco @WicklowUplands pic.twitter.com/jEkZxXmro4
— Pure Project (@PureProject1) May 12, 2025
Mr Davis said volunteers from PURE respond “extremely quickly” to reports of illegal dumping and have a truck out on the road every day.
However, they recently decided to leave one area alone as an experiment.
“We have seen in the past where we’ve left a site, just to see what would happen and you’ve two black bags,” he said.
“Within four days, five days, a week, that would accumulate to over a ton of waste.
“So, it’s really important that we get out there very quickly because dumping attracts dumping.”
Members of the public can report illegal dumping to Pure by emailing info@pureproject.ie or calling 0402 28662.
Main image: Bin bags dumped in front of a no dumping sign. Picture by: Peter Mccabe/Design Pics via ZUMA Wire.
