Mobile CCTV caught 234 instances of illegal dumping

MOBILE CCTV cameras installed by Carlow Co Council at numerous dumping hotspots have so far detected 234 instances of illegal dumping, with 150 fines being issued and three individuals prosecuted. The three individuals who were prosecuted were issued with fines in excess of €1,500.

This update on the mobile dumping cameras, which were installed in November 2025, was given at October’s meeting of Carlow County Council by director of services Pádraig O’Gorman. At the meeting, cllr Daniel Pender had requested an update on the scheme.

The council has 12 mobile CCTV cameras that they can station at different locations around the county. “Unfortunately, they are acquiring a high level of detection. We would have hoped that it wouldn’t have been so high, but these areas were selected because they were experiencing dumping,” Mr O’Gorman said.

Going through the footage and identifying the individuals who participated in the dumping does take up a significant amount of the environmental warden’s time, Mr O’Gorman said.

“They are proving to be a substantial deterrent in those areas. We will continue with it and, hopefully, the message will get out that if you are illegally dumping, we do now have resources where there’s every chance you will be caught,” Mr O’Gorman said.