Environmental Services

The Environment Section is responsible for a wide range of services spanning three programme groups. Objectives in the Council’s Corporate Plan include the protection and improvement of water and air quality in Sligo, and to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

The following areas of work are carried out by the Environmental Services Section:

PROGRAMME GROUP 5 – ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• Waste Management
• Water Quality Management
• Pollution Control
• Blue Flag Beaches
• Water Safety
• Casual Trading
• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Enforcement
• Litter Management
  

PROGRAMME GROUP 7 – AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION

• Food Safety
  

PROGRAMME GROUP 8 – MISCELLANEOUS

• Control of Dogs
• Control of Horses
  

The objectives outlined in the Council’s Corporate Plan (2004-2009) are to;

• Provide a clean living environment for the citizens of Sligo
• Promote the conservation of areas of natural environmental value
• Protect and improve water and air quality in Sligo
• Reduce the amount of waste going to landfill

The focus in 2007 was to continue to introduce and implement measures to achieve these corporate objectives.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

The new five year Connaught Waste Management Plan (2006-2011) was adopted in May 2006. This plan re-emphasises the targets to be achieved by 2013 in order to comply with National and EU targets, namely: Recycle 48%, Thermally Treat 33% and Landfill 19%. Sligo’s recycling rate for household waste continues to reach approximatley 30%, an increase of 67% from 2005. In order to reach the ambitious target of 48% recycling of municipal waste, the ‘third bin’ for organic kitchen waste needs to be introduced to the collection system. Planning for this will be advanced in 2008.

The management of commercial waste was a target in 2007, and great progress was made under the Packaging Regulations to  increase the quantities of packaging waste recycled in the county.

Recycling Centres

Dry recyclable wastes are catered for at the two Recycling Centres in Sligo City and Tubbercurry. The use of these facilities continues to grow and complement the separate kerbside collection of dry recyclable materials, which is available in Sligo town and throughout the county. Adequate infrastructure is in place in County Sligo to cater for the quantities of dry recyclable waste produced, and the challenge now is to maintain and increase their use by both domestic and commercial customers.

Glass is diverted from landfill via a network of 47 bottle banks located throughout Sligo city and county. A total of 1,244 tonnes of glass were recycled in Sligo in 2007. This equates to 4.36 million glass bottles, or 71.5 bottles per head for every person in the county. A total of 28 bring bank sites were upgraded in 2007, with works including fencing, kerbing, paving and improved signage. This improved image of the bottle banks along with the installation of CCTV cameras at 9 of the sites has helped to greatly reduce the incidences of illegal dumping at bottle bank sites.

Composting

Organic kitchen waste makes up approximately 30% of all household waste generated. Home composting is a positive and simple option to deal with this waste stream. In 2007, the Environment Section continued to promote the use of home composters and offer them for sale at a subsidised rate. Home composting and the introduction of the ‘third bin’ for the collection of separated organic kitchen waste will greatly increase the diversion of organic kitchen waste from landfill, thus increasing Sligo’s recycling rates. The ‘third bin’ is expected to be introduced in 2009.

Sligo County Council completed the construction of a Green Waste Composting Facility at Ballisodare, Co. Sligo, in 2007. Green garden waste is a bulky waste fraction that should be diverted from landfill. This facility will be operational in 2008 and will allow both domestic and commercial operators bring their garden waste to the facility for composting.

Waste Hierarchy

Landfill is the least preferred option in dealing with waste, and is at the bottom of the EU waste hierarchy. However, landfill is required to deal with the waste that cannot be recycled, composted or thermally treated, which is estimated to be 19% of all waste generated in Connaught. A greater percentage of landfill capacity is required until the necessary infrastructure is put in place to recycle, compost and in particular thermally treat waste. The development of a North Connaught Landfill to deal with this interim waste, and to ultimately deal with the 19% of residual waste in 2013, continued to be discussed by all relevant Local Authorities in 2007.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

The Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer actively promotes positive environmental action throughout County Sligo. The Environmental Awareness Officer works in tandem with schools, community groups and members of the public to encourage them to reduce, reuse and recycle waste.

The level of interest in waste minimization and effective waste management has dramatically increased in recent years and diverting waste from landfill is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing our country.

The Environment Section promotes environmental awareness through a variety of education and information initiatives which are run on an on-going basis. Emphasis is placed on waste prevention campaigns along with campaigns to encourage greater use of the two recycling centers, bring banks, kerbside collection of dry recyclable waste and the use of home composting.

A survey of local authorities, conducted by the Local Government Management Services Board for the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, showed that Sligo’s domestic recycling rate for 2006 was 29%, among the highest recycling rates in the country.

The high level of recycling has been achieved by the implementation of a number of measures which include the councils ‘pay-by-use’ policy to encourage waste minimisation, the roll-out of the separate collection of dry recyclable materials and the high level of household participation in the scheme.

WEEE DIRECTIVE

The Council will continue to promote the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which allows householders to bring all waste electrical and electronic equipment to the recycling centers free of charge. In 2007, 113 retailers registered with Sligo Council under the WEEE Regulations and 570 tonnes of WEEE was recovered in County Sligo.

Solvent Regulations came into force in October 2007 which requires that businesses that emit solvent vapors register with their local authority and annually obtain a certificate of compliance. The Solvent Regulations were enacted to address the harmful effects of solvents on human health and the environment.

GREEN SCHOOLS

The Environmental Awareness Officer organizes a number of initiatives with community groups and organizations throughout the county but one of the most successful environmental education campaigns is Green Schools programme. This campaign focuses on waste management and anti-litter awareness within schools and then progresses through the themes of energy awareness, water conservation, sustainable transport and biodiversity as it advances through the programme. School visits by the Awareness Officer are designed to assist schools towards achieving the Green Flag award by giving talks and workshops on waste and litter, energy conservation and water conservation. Annual Green School Seminars are also organised for both teachers and students on these themes.

In total 34 schools in County Sligo have achieved the Green Flag Award. 57 of Sligo’s 63 National Schools are registered with the Green Schools Programme, 28 of which have been awarded the Green Flag. All 15 of Sligo’s Secondary schools are registered in the Green Schools Programme, 5 of which have been awarded the Green Flag and 2 schools with Special Needs are registered in the Green Schools programme. One has achieved the Green Flag Award.

WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES

The Environment Section continues to support national environmental campaigns e.g. Green Christmas Campaign, National Tree Week, National Spring Clean, National Recycling Week, Race Against Waste etc. by organizing local initiatives. In March 2007 1,000 sapling trees were distributed to community and voluntary groups and schools in County Sligo as part of the National Tree Week programme of events and Sligo County Council supported the community in Kilverneen, Tubbercurry to restore a piece of bog land that had been seriously damaged through illegal dumping as a flag-ship project for the Council as part of the National Spring Clean Campaign 2007.

LOCAL AGENDA 21

The Anti-Litter Awareness Grant and Local Agenda 21 Environment Partnership Fund offers financial support to groups that wish to organize environmental projects. The Local Agenda 21 – Environment Partnership Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level. In 2007, 17 groups applied for funding under this grant scheme and 12 applicants were successful. €6,507 was granted from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which must be matched by the local authority, bringing a total of funding to €13,014.

Funding of €23,000 was awarded for public education and awareness initiatives on litter under the Anti-Litter Awareness Fund 2007. Sligo County Council received 22 applications for funding of which 20 were successful.

The Environment Awareness Officer uses the local media in the form of local newspaper and radio advertisements, press releases and interviews to promote the campaigns as they arise. Sligo County Council’s web-site and newly installed podcast service also broadcast environmental news and information.

WASTE ENFORCEMENT

Since the Waste Management Act came into being in 1996, a large number of Waste Regulations have followed, covering a wide range of waste management activities.

Proceeds from a number of initiatives at national level including the Plastic Bag Levy and the Landfill Levy are funding waste enforcement teams in local authorities across the country. In 2007, a third waste enforcement officer was employed to assist in enforcement activities.

The main role of the enforcement section is in the areas of waste facility and waste collection permits, waste presentation, packaging, WEEE recycling, plastic bag levy, waste movements (including exports), general complaints, illegal dumping and burning, farm plastics, end of life vehicle issues and general compliance with all waste regulations that are currently in force. Waste Enforcement also involves advising businesses and the general public, as well as other sections of the Local Authority about various aspects of waste management and the implications placed upon those affected by the introduction of new regulations.

Over 1,300 waste management related complaints and issues were dealt with by the Waste Enforcement section in 2007.

HAZARDOUS WASTE

One of Sligo County Council’s priorities in 2007 in this area was to ensure that hazardous wastes generated by sectors such as garages and the motor trade in general were being dealt with in an appropriate manner. This involved the production of a guidance leaflet and audits were carried out on a number of sites. Through this process, a number of sites were identified that were affected by the recently introduced ELV (End of Life Vehicle) Regulations. These regulations govern the proper storage and treatment of cars and would also relate to the permitting of Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATF) in the County for the free take back of old or scrap cars. Due to the restrictions imposed by the Regulations, many of the ELV’s that were previously being stored inappropriately on unpermitted sites were sent to the permitted sites. The quantities of de-polluted vehicles that passed through the permitted sites rose significantly, and this material was exported from the County by ship and road. The exportation of this waste was subject to inspection and tracking during transport, both at road checkpoints and port inspections.

Another area which required attention was the issue of waste presentation, both from businesses and the domestic sector. There was an issue surrounding inappropriate presentation, coupled with the introduction of bye laws and the review and extension of routes. The work carried out in this area has resulted in an improved waste collection service for the county, and a greater volume of waste being collected and disposed of in an appropriate manner. This area will continue to require a significant investment of effort to ensure that services continue to improve and expand.

The waste enforcement team also worked closely with businesses, mainly in the area of compliance with existing packaging regulations, and endeavouring to reduce the amount of packaging being used, and also to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill.

Also in 2007, a significant amount of time was devoted to construction and demolition waste related issues. This included the implementation of guidelines about the use of certain waste streams. Due to the composition and significant volume of this waste stream, it is envisaged that this area will continue to warrant sustained attention from the enforcement section.

As well as carrying out inspections at various sites, a number of alternative approaches to waste enforcement were employed. This included the carrying out of road check points relating to waste movements in conjunction with the Gardai and other local authorities. This exercise also helped to increase public awareness of the waste enforcement section.

ILLEGAL DUMPING

The covert camera system for surveillance of illegal dumping sites was deployed on a number of occasions throughout 2007. From discussions with other local authorities, the system will be of great benefit in identifying and possibly prosecuting illegal dumpers. There were also a number of CCTV systems installed at various sites, principally Bring Banks that had been adversely affected by illegal dumping. The Waste Enforcement team was involved in the monitoring of footage, and the issuing of fines to offenders, as well as the installation of the systems. Monitoring at one Bring Bank alone resulted in the identification of over 130 litter offenders and a significant number of litter fines being issued and paid.

Farm Plastics

In the summer of 2007, four points for the collection of farm plastics were set up around the county. There was no charge associated with this service, as it was funded by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and was intended to deal with a backlog of this material that had built up over the past number of years and had become an issue for farmers throughout the country. This resulted in the collection of over 1,000 tonnes of farm film plastic which was sent to Scotland for recycling. This initiative was very well received by the farming community.

The Waste Enforcement section will continue to work in all of the areas already outlined above, in addition to the new regulations that have been introduced since the start of 2007. These include:

• Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations, 2007
• Waste Management (Packaging) Regulations, 2007
• Waste Management (Environmental Levy) (Plastic Bag) Amendment (No.2) Regulations, 2007
• Waste Management (Shipments of Waste) Regulations, 2007
• Waste Management (Batteries and Accumulators) Regulations, 2008 (Draft)
  

LITTER

The issue of litter continues to be a major challenge. In 2007 activity continued on the enforcement of the Litter Pollution regulations.

In 2007, over 300 on-the-spot fines were issued for litter offences ranging from sweet wrappers and illegal signage to 2 or less bags of refuse illegally dumped on public property. Non payment of fines result in legal action being taken by the council and by the end of 2007 the Council initiated over 28 prosecutions.

In 2008 a zero tolerance approach will continue to be taken to littering at bring bank sites. With the purchase of CCTV cameras and installation of these at 9 bring bank sites in the county, it  is expected that offenders will be more easily identified. In 2007, 74 on-the spot fines were issued as a result of monitoring of footage at bring banks.

CLEAN SWEEP

Operation Clean Sweep continued in 2007. Under Section 6 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, occupiers of premises fronting onto the footway within the town limits are obliged to keep the area in front of their premises free of litter. Operation Clean Sweep has so far been introduced to seven towns and villages in the county.

Litter Monitoring surveys were again carried out by Sligo County Council from March to October by the Litter Warden in towns and villages in the county. This survey is an environmental management tool that enables local authorities to tackle litter more effectively, by providing a framework for consistent and accurate self-assessment by local authorities – “if you can measure the litter issue, you can manage it”.

The Environmental Awareness Officer continues to highlight the problem of litter through various programs of work and methods of advertising including competitions, newspaper and radio advertisements, posters, displays, signage and the publication of leaflets. Through the Green School’s programme a huge amount of awareness activity took place including school talks, litter competitions, discussions and debate.

WATER QUALITY

Water quality monitoring and management is governed by the EU Water Framework Directive which rationalises and updates existing water legislation and provides for water management on the basis of River Basin Districts (RBD). Small parts of County Sligo form part of the Shannon River Basin District and the North Western International River Basin District, while most of County Sligo is contained within the Western River Basin District, along with Mayo and Galway, Leitrim, Roscommon and Clare.

The overall objective of river basin projects is to establish an integrated monitoring and management system for all waters within a River Basin District, to develop a dynamic programme of management measures and to produce a River Basin Management Plan, which will be continuously updated.

The main responsibility for the implementation of this Directive lies with the EPA and Local Authorities, to be supported by a number of other public bodies. In 2007, monitoring of Sligo’s rivers and lakes took place under the National Water Framework Directive Monitoring Programme. The existing monitoring obligations of the Council were integrated into this programme, with more focused monitoring in areas of poor water quality. This monitoring was carried out by the EPA on behalf of Sligo County Council.

WATER MATTERS

A publication ‘Water Matters’ was produced by all River Basin Districts in 2007 outlining all issues and proposed actions in relation to water quality, and inviting comments from the public. This formed part of the public consultation process which is an integral part of the whole process. Draft Water Quality Management Plans will be published in 2008, with the final Management Plans adopted and published in 2009.

In 2007, the water quality team continued their monitoring and enforcement work in the Agricultural and Industrial sectors. 352 farm inspections were carried out, with follow up enforcement action taken where necessary. Industrial discharges to both waters and sewers were investigated throughout the county to ensure compliance with Water Pollution Regulations. Tubbercurry town was a particular focus for discharge licenses to the sewer in 2007, with an overall number of 223 inspections carried out in the county. In relation to on-site treatment systems, Sligo County Council continued to work closely with the panel of approved site assessors to ensure a consistent approach to site assessments, and enforcement work was carried out on planning conditions. An information leaflet was published on ‘Septic Tank and Effluent Treatment Systems’ outlining best practice in the area. A total of 456 planning inspections were carried out by the water quality team in 2007.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

In 2007 the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), who were commissioned by Sligo County Council, did some preparatory work on a Groundwater Protection Scheme for County Sligo. It is envisaged that this scheme will be completed by the end of 2008.

In 2007, Source Protection Plans were prepared for the Kilsellagh, Calry and Lough Talt Public Water Supply Schemes, including risk assessments for Cryptosporidium.

Sligo County Council continued to participate in the Western Region Zebra Mussel Control Initiative. During 2007 this campaign was very active in promoting awareness of the zebra mussel issue with the aim of reducing the spread of zebra mussels.

DRINKING WATER MONITORING AND LABORATORY

New Drinking Water Regulations came into effect on the 12th June, 2007. In many respects the new regulations replicate the existing regulations; however supervision of drinking water supplies is one of the key changes introduced by the new regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency is now the Supervisory Authority over Public Water Supplies and has new powers of enforcement over local authorities in this regard. In turn, Local Authorities are the supervisory authority for all other regulated water supplies. The increased enforcement powers afforded by this new legislation ensure that actions are taken where there is a quality deficiency in the water supply. Open and transparent communications between the supervisory authorities and the water suppliers is central to the implementation of these Regulations, and is crucial in terms of building and maintaining confidence in the new regime.

HIGH STANDARDS

Sligo continues to enjoy a very high standard of drinking water throughout the county. During 2007, an extensive programme of monitoring was carried out on 13 Public Water Supplies, 13 Private Group Water Schemes, and 21 Public Group Water Schemes throughout the County. All sampling was carried out at random sampling locations on each supply. Table 1 below shows the number of check and audit samples carried out on Drinking Water Supplies in the County during 2007. The type and frequency of sampling is governed by legislation.

Table 1

Number of check and audit samples carried out on drinking Water Supplies, 2007

Drinking Water Supply Type	Number Check Samples	Number Audit Samples
Public Water Supplies	259	29
Private Group Water Schemes	116	10
Public Group Water Schemes	74	4

Most of the analysis is carried out by Sligo County Council’s laboratory staff in the council’s well equipped Environmental Science Laboratory. Regular communication was maintained during 2007 with the Health Service Executive and the Environmental Protection Agency in relation to drinking water quality. Resources will need to be continually maintained in this area in order to meet our statutory obligations and in order to give the citizens of County Sligo full reassurance that the drinking water is being produced and tested to the highest standards.

In addition to drinking water monitoring, Sligo County Council’s laboratory staff monitored the final effluent discharge from all urban waste water treatment plants in the county to ensure compliance with the standard set by the EC (Urban Wastewater Treatment) Regulations, 2001. In addition, discharges from over 21 licensed premises were monitored in accordance with the conditions of the discharge licence issued.

Blue Flag Beaches

Rosses Point and Mullaghmore beaches retained their Blue Flag for the 2007 season. However Enniscrone was not successful in 2007 due to a small number of water quality samples not reaching the very stringent blue flag quality standards during the 2006 season.

Blue Flags are awarded based on 26 criteria which must be met during the previous season. These include bathing water quality, beach management, environmental education, and life guard service. In 2006, Enniscrone beach complied with all EU mandatory water quality standards, i.e. acceptable and safe bathing water quality. Enniscrone beach was however just outside the more stringent Blue Flag water quality standards for one parameter, Total Coliforms - 80% compliance was required and Enniscrone beach achieved 75% compliance.

Sligo’s full bathing water quality monitoring programme commenced in mid May and included this year for the first time, monitoring at Streedagh and Dunmoran Beaches. Water quality at all five beaches was monitored fortnightly during the bathing season, and results of this monitoring were displayed at each beach. All results showed full compliance with the mandatory bathing water quality standards.

Sligo County Council continues to work towards achieving the highest environmental standards at all our beaches.

WATER SAFETY

Sligo County Council provided a full-time Beach-guard service on Enniscrone, Mullaghmore, Rosses Point and Streedagh beaches and a weekend service on Dunmoran for the 2007 bathing season. A full-time Beach-warden service was also provided for Strandhill and Enniscrone beach in 2007. A similar level of service is envisaged for 2008.

AIR POLLUTION

Sligo enjoys excellent Air Quality, and is fortunate in not having heavy industry discharging to the atmosphere. Sligo County Council continued to monitor the activities of the one Air Pollution Licence holder in the county. A decision was made by Sligo County Council to issue two further licences, but these are under an appeal to An Bord Pleanala. Further efforts were made in 2007 to enforce the legislation in relation to backyard burning of waste, and in relation to the use of smokeless fuels in Sligo City. Sligo County Council continues to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to have ongoing monitoring of our air quality carried out if required.

FOOD SAFETY

Sligo County Council enforces Food Safety Regulations in smalls laughter houses (abattoirs) and small meat manufacturing  plants under Service Contract to the FSAI. The Service Contract between Sligo County Council and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) which is common to all local authorities was drawn up following negotiations between the City and County Managers Association, The FSAI and The Local Authority Veterinary Service. The current contract was adopted by the Council in 2006 and will be in place until 2010.

In 2007 the significant legislative changes introduced by the EU at the beginning of 2006 continued to be the main area of consideration. Work continued in 2007 on adapting and implementing these regulations. An implementation group consisting of the FSAI, the Department of Agriculture and the Local Authority Veterinary Service met regularly to discuss the specifics of the requirements and the need to introduce National Legislation to implement some of the new provisions. Sligo County Council continues to be represented on that group.

Funding for the service is provided by Central Government through the FSAI. While the 2007 allocation was sufficient to operate the service greater input is being sought by Local Authorities into how the Budget is allocated.

There are currently 2 abattoirs under the supervision of Sligo County Council. The supervision involves pre- and post- slaughter checks on all animals along with continuous monitoring of hygiene and welfare standards and BSE controls. Both plants were approved under the new legislation in 2007 and are now operating under full export standard. One of the results of the new legislation was to remove the distinction between small throughput plants and export plants. Both operators have undertaken training in HACCP which is a food safety management system and have introduced HACCP plans in their premises.

Sligo was chosen as one of the counties to participate in a project in the North West designed to promote and market meat produced by small abattoirs. This came about following discussions between the Local Authority Veterinary Service, Leader and the Department of Community, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs. It is hoped to make further progress on this in 2008.

The inspection of liquid milk producers now takes place at an agreed level for all Local Authorities.

ANIMAL WELFARE

Sligo County Council is responsible for animal welfare under The Control of Dogs Act and The Control of Horses Act.

Implementation of the Control of Dogs Acts involves investigation and seizure of stray dogs and checks for dog licences. The number of dog licences has gone up from 2535 in 2003 to 4322 in 2007. This has been the result of a lot of work on the ground by the Dog Warden. Considerable work has also been done in re-homing dogs where possible.

Particular attention and resources were dedicated in 2007 to breeds which are listed in the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998 and which are commonly called restricted breeds. This involved targeting owners of these breeds and working with the Housing section of both local authorities. As recent events in Britain have shown these breeds can be potentially very dangerous if not kept under strict control. Of the 374 dogs handled by the pound in 2007, 79 were restricted breeds and 54 of these were Pit Bulls/Pit Bull crosses. This focus will continue in 2008 both in the enforcement of existing regulations and the possible introduction of new bye-laws if necessary.

The Warden carried out some patrols at a number of the beaches in the County following the introduction of Beach Bye-Laws. These included a provision to have dogs on a leash at all times.

The issue of stray horses continues to be monitored. A number of difficulties at one location throughout the year resulted in the seizure of 6 horses in late 2007 for persistent infringement of the Control of Horses Act and bye-laws. Difficulties at this location and at one other location persist and further seizures will be considered if the situation does not improve.

The Council’s responsibilities for Sheep Scab Control have been transferred to the Department of Agriculture.