Significant increase in litter and dumping fines issued across Cork city and county  

The number of litter and illegal dumping fines issued since the start of this year has increased by more than 56% across Cork, amounting to over €55,000.

Figures provided to The Echo by Cork City Council and Cork County Council show that 369 litter and illegal dumping fines were issued across both divisions between January 1 and March 31, representing a 56.4% increase on the 236 fines issued for the same period last year.

The number of litter and illegal dumping fines issued by Cork City Council during this time stands at 337, amounting to a cost of €50,550.

This represents an almost 57.5% increase on the 214 fines issued by the city council for the same problem in Q1 2025.

Of the 337 fines issued by the city council in Q1, a total of 204 have been paid.

Meanwhile, the number of litter and illegal dumping fines issued by Cork County Council stands at 32, amounting to a cost of €4,800 and representing a 45.5% increase on the 22 fines issued for the same problem in Q1 last year.

Combined value of fines

This brings the combined value of litter and illegal dumping fines issued by both local authorities since the start of this year to €55,350.

Of the 32 fines issued by the county council in Q1, a total of 15 have been paid.

The majority of litter and illegal dumping fines recorded in the county division were issued in Kanturk/Mallow at 19, followed by five in Cobh, four in West Cork, two in Fermoy and two in Macroom.

Of these fines issued, four have been prosecuted, including two in Kanturk/Mallow and two in Fermoy, with one in West Cork pending prosecution.

A spokesperson for Cork County Council said the local authority “continues to actively address littering and illegal dumping across the county, dedicating significant resources to responding to reports and carrying out enforcement”.

“This work is supported by strong collaboration with other agencies,” the spokesperson said.

“While instances of organised and unauthorised waste collection present ongoing challenges, the council remains committed to targeted enforcement and inter-agency cooperation to protect the environment and local communities.”

Additionally, there were more than 1,000 anti-litter and other environmental complaints filed with both local authorities since the start of this year, of which 415 were lodged with Cork City Council and 598 were lodged with Cork County Council.

Of the near 600 complaints lodged with Cork County Council, 99 were recorded in Kanturk/Mallow, 82 were in East Cork, 79 were in Carrigaline, 70 were in West Cork, 70 were in Cobh, 64 were in Macroom, 57 were in Fermoy, 51 were in Bandon/Kinsale and a further 26 were in areas not assigned with a municipal district.

Community service hours

Fine Gael councillor for the Kanturk electoral area, Aileen Browne, said that community service hours should replace financial punishments in relation to littering and illegal dumping.

“I raised this issue recently, to gain some sort of understanding as to why we have such a high level [of littering and illegal dumping],” said Ms Browne.

“While we do have the highest level of complaints, I think this means that people are more aware of it and are more likely to report.

“We have an awful lot of roads in the area which see a lot of fly-tipping.

“We have been highlighting this issue for months, and I have written to the relevant ministers to suggest that instead of issuing somebody with a fine, they should instead be given community service involving a litter pick,” she added.

“They should be sent back out to pick up the litter they dropped or sent to the area they littered in to do a clean-up.

“It’s all well and good to issue someone with a fine, but we should forget about the money aspect of it and hit them where it hurts – in their pride.”