CCTV cameras installed in Dublin’s north inner city to combat illegal dumping have been met with skepticism from locals who doubt the surveillance will solve what they describe as a “disgraceful” problem. The cameras went live Monday on Belvedere Place, Sherrard Street Lower, and Summer Street North, with violators facing minimum €150 fines.
Additional penalties and cleanup costs apply for significant dumping cases prosecuted in court. However, a Dublin City Council litter warden working in the area expressed doubts about effectiveness. “The people who litter, they’ll do it anyway,” he said, describing bags of rubbish appearing “everywhere” around North Circular Road each morning despite warnings to residents. Dublin City Council received over 13,000 illegal dumping reports in 2024, with over 9,000 reported so far this year.
Local business owner Gavin described it as an “everyday problem,” noting seagulls scatter waste that gets “walked over” and “dragged by vehicles.” Amy O’Brien, who works locally, called the situation “disgraceful,” while acknowledging CCTV might help if dumpers are “tracked down and prosecuted.” Some locals suggested free council-provided bins as a solution, but DCC maintains its “Polluter Pays” principle, treating waste charges like utility bills. The council will review the CCTV system’s effectiveness in three to four months, though it acknowledges surveillance isn’t suitable for every area.