CCTV Scheme Project 2: Marrowbone Lane

Overview:

Dublin City Council provide unstaffed Bring Centres throughout the city for use by members of the public to recycle small household items, such as glass, clothes and dry recyclables. One facility is located in the public domain at Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8 with the site accessible 24 hours a day.

Despite ample “No Dumping” signage in place at this site, there is a continuing issue with illegal dumping. A survey of the site was carried out between 19 August 2024 and 13 September 2024 which documents this issue. In this period, 22 bags of household waste, seven cardboard boxes and a number of house hold junk items, including a suitcase, a pram and a child’s car seat, were dumped at the site. Clothes were also found scattered on the ground in front the clothes banks on seven days of the survey days.

Thanks to amendments to the Litter Pollution Acts 1997, local authorities can now use CCTV to deter, prevent, detect and prosecute cases of illegal dumping. Under this legislation, CCTV cameras can only be deployed at locations where there is a history of illegal dumping and where other initiatives to prevent it have failed.

What we are proposing:

Dublin City Council wants your feedback on its plan to install CCTV cameras at litter blackspots across Dublin. This initiative aims to address the ongoing issue of illegal dumping at the Bring Centre on Marrowbone Lane.

Before the introduction of CCTV, a site must meet certain criteria and go through a rigorous procedure to ensure that the deployment of CCTV cameras is necessary, targeted and proportionate. Conducting a public consultation is part of this process. This online public consultation relates only to the Bring Centre on Marrowbone Lane in Dublin 8. Any further CCTV schemes will also include a consultation.

CCTV footage from these cameras will be used for the purpose of prevention, detection and enforcement of illegal dumping under the Litter Pollution Acts as amended.

Why we are proposing these changes:

Over the past few years, Dublin City Council has tried various initiatives to prevent illegal dumping at these locations, including 'No Dumping' signage, warning signs and litter prevention audio/visual technology. Unfortunately, these initiatives had no discernible effect.

Now, through this CCTV scheme, Dublin City Council hopes to address this issue by deterring and detecting incidents of illegal dumping. We also hope it will enhance enforcement and allow us to prosecute more cases under the Litter Pollution Acts.

In addition, we also hope that it will reduce clean up costs, which could free up resources for other improvements in the community. We also want to enhance community wellbeing by providing clean and pleasant streets for the people who live and work in the area.