Main pic: Some of the used tyres found dumped near Barnesmore Gap in 2021. Pic: Donegal Daily.
Donegal County Council is performing strongly when it comes to environmental enforcement, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA has today published its report on the environmental enforcement performance of local authorities in 2022.
The report shows that the scale of environmental enforcement work carried out by local authorities is significant.
According to the EPA, Donegal County Council met the required standard of a ‘Strong’ or ‘Excellent’ result for 80% of the National Enforcement Priorities (NEPs) in 2022.
The national average was 59%. Local authorities are expected to meet the required standard in 100% of the NEPs by the end of the 2022 – 2024 three year cycle.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said:
“Local authorities have a vital statutory responsibility in the protection of our local environment and are responsible for enforcing much of our environmental protection legislation. While the scale of environmental enforcement work carried out by local authorities is significant, in many areas it is not delivering the necessary environmental outcomes such as improved water and air quality and waste segregation.”
Unfortunately, many key environmental indicators are static or trending in the wrong direction:
- There was no significant improvement in water quality in 2022, and more local authority farm inspections and enforcement are needed to reduce the impact of agricultural activities on water quality.
- Greater enforcement is needed by local authorities to ensure failed septic tank systems are fixed.
- In the waste sector, there are challenging recycling targets that need to be met.
- Localised air pollution issues continue to have a negative impact on people’s health.
Dr Ryan added:
“The effective enforcement of environmental quality standards at the local level is essential. Local authority leadership is critical in delivering better environmental outcomes through the prioritisation of environmental enforcement and the appropriate allocation of resources.”
Waste:
Poor waste segregation remains an ongoing problem with households and businesses still putting most of their waste in the wrong bin. Local authorities need to enforce the roll-out and use of 3-bin systems, to improve segregation and increase recycling of both household and commercial waste.
David Pollard, Programme Manager of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said:
“The EPA’s recent waste characterisation study shows that many households and businesses are still failing to properly segregate their waste. Improving recycling rates through better segregation of wastes into the general, recycling and organics bins is essential if, as a nation, we are to turn waste into a valuable resource and reduce the amount of wastes we are sending to incineration and landfills. Local authorities have a vital role to play here by targeting their enforcement at the roll out and proper use of the 3-bin system.”