Illegal dumping is rising again in Ireland. One clean-up project in the Dublin and Wicklow uplands expects a 44% increase in dumped waste this year. Construction waste has turned up on Offaly boglands. The damage caused by illegal dumping does not stay on the surface. Contaminants can move into soil and groundwater, and the landowner can be left with the bill.
Table of Contents
Illegal Dumping Figures for 2026
The Pure Project removes dumped waste from the Wicklow and Dublin uplands. It collected 90,000 kg of waste in the first half of 2026. That is 20,000 kg more than the same period in 2025. At this rate, Pure expects to remove 180,000 kg by the end of the year, a 44% increase on 2025.
Pure manager Ian Davis called the rise in illegal dumping “disheartening”. He linked it to people handing waste to unauthorised collectors, whose loads end up dumped in the uplands.
Other counties report the same problem:
- Offaly: On 3 September, Offaly County Council condemned the illegal dumping of construction and demolition (C&D) waste on boglands near Ferbane and Lumcloon.
- Kildare: A former meat factory site in Sallins was left with gas bottles, mattresses, building materials and alleged toxic waste. The reported clean-up bill is around €10,000.
The Government is responding. On-the-spot litter fines rose from €150 to €250 on 1 September 2026. The Anti-Dumping Initiative, now in its tenth year, has funded over 2,200 projects since 2017. Those projects have removed over 26,400 tonnes of waste.
What Dumped Waste Leaves Behind
C&D waste is Ireland’s largest waste stream. The EPA puts it at between 8 and 9 million tonnes a year since 2019. Some of it contains hazardous material, which is why the EPA publishes guidance on hazardous fractions in C&D waste.
After illegal dumping, nobody checks what is in the waste. Rain washes contaminants out of the pile and into the ground below. Common contaminants in dumped C&D and mixed waste include:
- Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and zinc, from treated timber, old paint and tyres
- Mineral oils from fuel, engine oil and diesel-soaked soil
- PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) from tar, bitumen and burnt material
- BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) from fuels and solvents
- PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) from older electrical equipment
- Asbestos from older roofing, sheeting and insulation
Groundwater is the next risk. The EPA notes that many areas in Ireland have high groundwater vulnerability, which makes well contamination more likely. A dump site upslope of a private well can affect drinking water long after the waste is gone.
Who Pays for the Clean-Up?
Irish law places primary responsibility on the holder of the waste. That is the person in possession of it, or the person who produced it. The Waste Management Act sets a general duty of care. No one may hold, transport or dispose of waste in a way that causes pollution.
This can reach both landowners and householders:
- Landowners: Local authorities can issue Section 55 notices, which require set measures within a fixed time. Where dumping appears to have happened with the landowner’s consent, the landowner can be prosecuted.
- Householders: Anyone who hands waste to an unauthorised collector can be fined or prosecuted. They can also be billed for the cost of removing it.
Penalties for serious illegal dumping offences are high. On summary conviction, fines reach €5,000 with up to 12 months in prison. On indictment, fines reach €15 million with up to 10 years in prison.
Contaminated Land Rules Are Changing
Ireland deals with contaminated land through its waste, water and pollution laws. There is no single framework for assessing soil health. That is set to change.
The EU Soil Monitoring Law entered into force on 16 December 2025. It covers erosion, compaction, sealing and soil contamination on farmland, forests and urban land. It also sets out to address the long-standing problem of contaminated sites across the EU. Member states must transpose it into national law by 16 December 2028.
Soil data will matter more for landowners in the years ahead. A clean baseline today gives you a record to stand on later.
What to Do If Waste Is Dumped on Your Land
Act fast, but do not handle the waste yourself. It may contain asbestos or other hazardous material.
- Record it. Take photos and note the date and location.
- Report it. Contact the environment section of your local authority.
- Use a permitted collector. All waste collectors need a valid permit from the National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO).
- Classify before disposal. Waste needs the correct EWC (European Waste Catalogue) code before a facility will accept it.
- Test the ground. Once the waste is gone, test the soil where it sat. If you have a private well nearby, get a drinking water test too.
Classification also affects cost. Since March 2026, Ireland’s C&D waste levy charges €10 per tonne at recovery and disposal facilities. The wrong classification can lead to rejected loads, penalties and delays.
Protect Your Land With Accredited Testing
At Southern Scientific, we help landowners, farmers, contractors and local authorities move from reactive crisis management to proactive protection. Our INAB-accredited, ISO 17025 certified laboratories test soil and waste for the pollutants dumped material leaves behind.
Our contaminated land WAC analysis covers Inert, Stable Non-Reactive Hazardous and Hazardous suites. We can also build a bespoke suite for your site. Depending on the suite, tests include metals, mineral oil, PAHs, BTEX and PCBs.
Not sure how to classify your material? Our waste classification service is the first step.
