Plan to track Kildare fast food litter fails
Photo is for illustrative purposes only
KILDARE fast food outlets should ensure customer identity numbers on their bag to curb littering, according to a local councillor.
The issue of litter from fast food and takeaway outlets has come under the microscope as a significant issue around the county but cllr Tom McDonnell's attempt to tackle the problem councillor’s was shot down.
At the most recent meeting of Kildare County Council, cllr Tom McDonnell asked “that the council ensures that fast food and take away outlets in Kildare have a registered identity number on all take away bags to prevent litter.”
The report issued in response to cllr McDonnell by the council’s director of services for climate community, environment and water Marian Higgins stated that the matter falls outside the council’s scope as it would need a the government to pass a new law and that the introduction of the proposed measure “is considered unlikely to achieve the desired outcomes".
The council further detailed that under current laws, the customer is responsible for the proper disposal in the case of waste from a takeaway or fast food outlet. The operators of such outlets are simply required to provide adequate litter bins nearby.
The council also noted it’s “takeaway not throwaway” poster campaign, where posters were distributed to takeaway outlets aimed at raising awareness on the issue of litter and encouraging the public to be more responsible.
Speaking at the meeting, cllr McDonnell mentioned a law which places an obligation on outlets to keep the area within 100 metres of the premises clean. Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, mobile food operators must clean up any litter coming from their outlet within a radius of 100 metres. This does not apply to fixed restaurants.
Cllr Suzanne Doyle said she wants it to be mandatory for receipts to be placed in or attached to takeaway bags, noting instances where there has been success in prosecuting litterers due to the receipt being in or attached to the bag.
Cllr Bernard Caldwell said it was wrong to focus so much on fast food and takeaway outlets, remarking that “litter is litter and it’s on every road in the country”.
