Rise in complaints about litter across Cork county last year, but fewer fines issued  

There were more complaints about litter and waste in Cork county last year than in 2023, but fewer fines were issued and there were fewer investigations.

The data was published by Cork County Council in their environment divisional committee report, which looks at performance across the county’s local electoral areas.

The report found that the amount of recyclables and waste disposed of at civic amenity sites in 2024 increased to 22,679 tonnes, from 22,324 in 2023.

However, there was a year-on-year decrease in the number of littering fines, as well as decreases in the percentage that were paid and the amount of cases sent for prosecution.

Fines

Some 57 littering fines were issued in 2024, compared to 83 in 2023, while 56% of these were paid last year, compared to 65% the year before. In 2023, 26% were sent for prosecution, compared to 21% in 2024.

The majority of these fines were issued in three wards: 25 in Kanturk-Mallow in 2024, with 12 paid; 12 issued in Fermoy, with nine paid; and eight issued in Bandon Kinsale, with four paid.

Additionally, two were issued last year in Carrigaline and both were paid; none were issued in Macroom; six were issued in Cobh and four paid; three were issued in East Cork and two paid; and one was issued in West Cork, but not paid.

Prosecution

One case was sent for prosecution in Fermoy and 11 in Kanturk Mallow.

There was an increase in anti-litter unit and environmental complaints, from 1,679 in 2023 to 1,875 in 2024.

These fines were largely about waste, though some also related to air and noise pollution.

The Mallow Kanturk local electoral area had the highest number of complaints last year, at 356; followed by West Cork, at 273; Carrigaline, at 220; East Cork, with 204; Cobh, with 193; Bandon Kinsale, with 186; Fermoy, with 180; and Macroom, with 169. No location was listed for 94 complaints.

Reduction

Despite this, there was a reduction in fly-tipping complaint investigations, with 738 carried out in 2024, compared to 960 the year before, and fewer fly-tipping clean-up jobs, with 665 compared to 793.

Additionally, the fly-tipping units were on litter duty for 93 days last year, compared to 106 the year before, but, despite this, they collected 152 tonnes of waste in 2024 and 147 in 2023.

In total last year, there were 119 fly-tipping and illegal dumping inspections, 13 waste-presentation and backyard burning inspections, 28 abandoned-vehicle inspections, and 94 other waste-enforcement inspections.