Soiled nappies dumped at popular north Westmeath nature site

The council has appealed to the public for information following a “particularly bad” illegal dumping incident at one of north Westmeath's best know beauty spots.

A significant amount of household waste, much of it soiled babies' nappies, was dumped at Sailor's Garden on the shores of Lough Sheelin near Finea last week leaving council staff with a significant clean-up job.

Environmental awareness officer Aisling Stafford told the Westmeath Examiner that given the location it was one of the worst cases of illegal dumping that she has come across.

“Illegal dumping is an ongoing issue but this incident was particularly bad. There are a lot of soiled nappies and blankets dumped right beside the lake, close to the picnic area where there are seats. It's also a wildlife protected zone.

“The whole point is that it is so costly to remove, and both hazardous for the environment and the people cleaning it up. The money could be spent on a lot better things.

“Sailor's Garden is a particularly beautiful spot that a lot of families go to and is a place rich in wildlife.”

In order to try and catch the perpetrators, council staff have to go through the waste by hand, which is time consuming, as well being deeply unpleasant and a health risk for those involved.

Ms Stafford says that Westmeath County Council's Environment Section receives reports about illegal dumping incidents on an almost weekly basis.

The most recent before the incident at Sailor's Garden was in the townland of Tullaghan earlier this month, where a large amount of waste, including soiled adult nappies, were dumped.

Ms Stafford says that most significant dumping events, including the one at Sailor's Garden, are likely carried out by unlicensed waste collectors.

“It would point to the man in the van, an unlicensed waste collector coming to a house and taking things away.”

If a member of the public witnesses people engaging in illegal dumping, Ms Stafford urged them to contact the Environment Section at environment@westmeathcoco.ie.