The “Dump the Dumpers” service was designed to encourage reporting of illegal dumping of waste or of abandoned illegal dumps via a 24 hour call save telephone number - 1850 365 121. This information is followed up and checked by the enforcement authorities - local authorities, the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement and the Gardaí - through the Environmental Enforcement Network.
A review of the operation of the service has indicated that 70% of calls are resolved. Approximately 75% of calls received to date relate to incidents of fly tipping and burning of waste.
The “Dump the Dumpers” phone line is staffed on a 24-hour basis so callers get to speak to a trained operator who elicits all necessary details to enable the matter to be investigated. While information can be provided anonymously, callers are encouraged to leave contact details so that clarification can be sought if necessary and so that feedback can be provided to the caller if requested.
Serious incidents of illegal dumping are reported immediately to the Gardaí and the relevant local authority so that activities can be investigated as appropriate. These include for example, the contents of a 40-foot trailer being dumped in a field or the dumping of diesel laundering waste.
“The “Dump the Dumpers” phone line is proving to be a valuable mechanism for members of the public to report illegal waste activities. We want to make it as easy as possible for the public to take control of environmental problems in their area and hope the phone line will encourage them to do so,” explained Dara Lynott, Director, EPA, Office of Environmental Enforcement.
