More illegal dumping feared after bin tag price rise

It's feared that illegal dumping could become more common in the Athlone area as a result of steeper bin tag prices. Waste disposal companies operating locally have raised their prices by up to 50% (see story on page one) following an increase in the government's landfill levy. And Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran said he was worried that illegal dumping could become more prevalent as a consequence of this price hike. "Illegal dumping is already going on and I would worry that we're going to see more of it. We have used CCTV cameras (to combat the dumping) in certain areas but the people who are doing this have been moving around." The chairperson of Athlone Tidy Towns, John Butler, commented that, while a certain amount of illegal dumping was taking place, most people were "fairly responsible" when it came to waste disposal. "We are always concerned about the issue of illegal dumping and we have to find ways to combat it," said Mr Butler. "But higher costs cannot be used as an excuse for people to dump waste illegally."