Environmental Services

The Environmental Services Section is responsible for a wide range of services spanning three programme groups and aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Provide a clean living environment for the citizens of Sligo.
• Promote the conservation of areas of natural environmental value.
• Protect and improve water and air quality in Sligo.
• Reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

During 2010, the focus was to continue to introduce and implement measures to achieve these corporate objectives.

Environmental Protection

• Waste Management
• Water Quality Management
• Pollution Control
• Beaches
• Water Safety
• Casual Trading
• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Enforcement
• Litter Management
• Noise Pollution
• Air Pollution
• Climate Change

Agriculture and Education

• Food Safety

Miscellaneous

• Control of Dogs
• Control of Horses

Waste Management

The level of interest in waste minimisation and effective waste management has dramatically increased in recent years and diverting waste from landfill is one of the greatest waste management challenges facing our Country. The Connaught Waste Management Plan (2006-2011) re-emphasises the waste management targets to be achieved in order to comply with National and EU targets, namely: Recycle 48%, Thermally Treat 33% and Landfill 19% of our waste. However, in order to reach the ambitious target of 48% recycling of household waste, the ‘third bin’ for organic kitchen waste needs to be introduced to the collection system.

The brown bin was introduced on a limited basis at the end of 2009 to the commercial sector to increase the percentage of organic waste that is diverted from landfill and this continued throughout 2010. This is required under the Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009. All commercial and business premises are required to segregate their organic waste and present it for collection separately. This will see the Waste Enforcement Officers carry out inspections of premises to ensure that they are compliant with the Regulations, as well as further consultation and cooperation with the private waste collectors operating in the County.

Infrastructure

Recycling Centres

Dry recyclable wastes are catered for the general public at Greenstar Civic Amenity Site, Deepwater Quay, Sligo, and Tubbercurry Recycling Centre, Connolly Park, Tubbercurry. The use of these facilities continues to grow and complement the separate kerbside collection of dry recyclable materials, which is available throughout Sligo. In 2010, a permanent facility for the disposal of Household Hazardous waste was provided at the Tubbercurry Civic Amenity site.

Glass is diverted from landfill via a network of 40 bottle banks located throughout Sligo town and county. A total of 1,182 tonnes of glass were recycled in Sligo in 2010. 

Ballisodare Composting Facility

This Composting Facility at Union Road, Ballisodare, Co. Sligo opened in June 2008. This facility accepts green waste and sells peat free compost generated at the site. There has been significant development at the site during the course of 2010 with new equipment being purchased and the site itself being improved. The site continues to be a great success. 

Home composters can also be purchased at this site which also helps to divert organic waste from landfill.

Landfill

Landfill is the least preferred option in dealing with waste, however, landfill is required to deal with waste that cannot be recycled, composted or thermally treated. Therefore, the development of a North Connaught Landfill to deal with this interim waste, and to ultimately deal with the 19% of residual waste in 2013, is still a target of the Connaught Waste Management Plan.

Waste Enforcement

Funding of Enforcement Office

Proceeds from a number of initiatives at national level including the Plastic Bag Levy and the Landfill Levy are providing 100% funding for waste enforcement teams in Local Authorities across the country.

Role of Enforcement Office

The main role of the enforcement section is in to ensure that waste is properly managed in a way that avoids environmental pollution, increases diversion from landfill rates and does not allow for non compliant operators to have a competitive advantage over compliant operators. The areas that the office worked on in 2010 included:

• Waste facility and waste collection permits
• Waste Presentation (including WM (Food Waste) Regs 2009)
• WEEE recycling
• Waste movements (including exports)
• General complaints
• General advice
• Illegal dumping
• Burning complaints
• Ban on Smokey Fuels
• Farm plastics
• End-of-Life vehicles
• Historic landfill issues and
• General compliance with all waste regulations that are currently in force.

End-of-Life Vehicles

One of Sligo County Council’s waste management priorities in 2010 was the Waste Management (End-Of-Life Vehicles) Regulations, 2006. Enforcement of these Regulations was carried out via inspections, road checkpoints and follow up inspections to the aerial surveys which were carried out in 2009, which identified sites where scrap vehicles were being stored in a manner that could result in environmental pollution. Subsequently, enforcement measures were carried out at these sites. In 2010 there were three registered authorised treatment facilities in Sligo where members of the public could deposit their old cars free of charge.

Waste Presentation 

The work carried out with Waste Presentation has resulted in an improved waste collection service for the County, and a greater volume of waste being collected and disposed of in an appropriate manner. This area will continue to require a significant investment of effort to ensure that services continue to improve and expand. 

The rollout of a third bin for organic waste started in 2010, with it becoming an obligation for all commercial and business premises to segregate their organic waste and to present it separately for collection. Most premises are compliant with the new Food Waste Regulations and the roll out of the third bin will continue in 2011, with domestic customers in Sligo now being offered the option of using a brown bin. This area has been identified as a priority by the DoEHLG.

Multi Agency Approach

As well as carrying out inspections at various sites, a number of co-ordinated multi agency approaches to waste enforcement were employed. These included the carrying out, in conjunction with the Gardai and other local authorities, of regular road check points relating to waste movements. This exercise also helped to increase public awareness of the waste enforcement section.

Historic Landfill Issues

These are landfills which operated without a licence (no national legislation in place at time of operation) but are now required to be regularised via legislation and the Code of Practice titled “Environmental Risk Assessment for Unregulated Waste Disposal Sites”. This work primarily involves determining and breaking the links between the source of pollution, pathway of pollution and the receptor. Significant work was undertaken in this area in 2010 in identifying these facilities and in determining the environmental risk associated with some of them. This body of work will continue into 2011 and beyond.

Environmental Awareness

The role of the Council's Environmental Awareness Office is to promote positive environmental action throughout County Sligo. The Environmental Awareness Office works in tandem with schools, community groups and members of the public to encourage them to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. However, due to the absence of the Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer, work in this office for 2010 was kept to a minimum.

One of the most successful environmental education campaigns is the Green Schools Programme. During 2010, Sligo County Council continued to work with An Taisce’s Green-Schools Development Officer and Travel Education Officer to support the Green-Schools Programme. Local participation in the campaign is very high, with 96% of all schools registered. During 2010, the prestigious Green Flag was awarded to 29 schools, with no less than 24 of these renewing their Flag.

Information seminars have proven to be particularly effective in providing advice and encouragement to teachers and others directly involved in the Green-Schools Programme. Once again, Sligo County Council collaborated with An Taisce’s local Green-Schools Officers to deliver a series of seminars during the autumn months. Four events were held: three in Sligo and one in Tubbercurry. These were well-attended, with some 45 schools sending representatives.

During the year, dozens of Sligo’s Green-Schools benefitted directly or indirectly from national grant-schemes administered by the County Council, including the Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme and the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund. Local schemes were also used to support theme work, particularly the Heritage in Schools Scheme and special School Biodiversity visits organised by the Heritage Office for International Year of Biodiversity.

The Themes on which Green-Schools focus in turn are: Litter and Waste, Energy, Water, Travel and Biodiversity. By the end of 2010, a third of all participating Sligo schools were at the advanced stage of promoting the fourth and fifth themes. These included the five schools that were invited to pilot the Biodiversity Theme for An Taisce in 2009. This indicates an impressive level of sustained hard work and achievement within the school communities. Sligo had further reason to be proud when St. Aiden’s National School, Monasteraden, won the Primary School Leading Lights in Road Safety National Award for their road safety awareness film. The award was presented by Gay Byrne at a special ceremony in Dublin Castle on 13th October 2010. 

  
- Gay Byrne with Imelda Ryan-Jones, teachers and pupils of St. Aidan’s N.S. with their RSA Leading Light Award 

National Spring Clean ran in April and May 2010. 79 Community and voluntary groups registered with An Taisce and clean-ups were carried out with the help of the Environmental Services Section.

The Anti-Litter Anti Graffiti Awareness Grant and Local Agenda 21 Environment Partnership Fund offers financial support to groups that wish to organise environmental projects or raise awareness of environmental issues. The Local Agenda 21 – Environment Partnership Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level. In 2010, 17 groups received funding under this grant scheme. €6,840 was granted from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which must be matched by the local authority, bringing a total of funding to €13,680.

Funding of €21,884 was awarded to 13 groups for public education and awareness initiatives on litter and graffiti under the Anti-Litter Anti-Graffiti Awareness Scheme 2010.

Litter

In 2010, Sligo County Council continued its vigorous campaign in its effort to combat illegal dumping activity under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 as amended with the appointment of a Litter Warden in March 2010.

The following is a breakdown of enforcement measures carried out during 2010 by our Litter Warden and Bottle Bank General Operative. 

Number of Complaints/Investigations/Queries/Inspections	3,138
Number of On-the-spot fines issued	50
Number of Section 9 issued	1

Operation Clean Sweep inspections continued in 2010 and has, so far, been introduced to 7 towns and villages in the County. Under Section 6 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended, occupiers of premises fronting onto the footway within the town limits are obliged to keep the area in front of their premises free of litter.

Litter Monitoring surveys were again carried out by Sligo County Council from March to December by the Litter Warden in towns and villages in the County. This survey is an environmental management tool that enables local authorities to tackle litter more effectively, by providing a framework for consistent and accurate self-assessment by local authorities –“if you can measure the litter issue, you can manage it”.

Bring Banks

In County Sligo, 40 sets of bring bank sites are provided for free recycling. These are for the collection of glass bottles and jars, aluminium cans and clothes at a number of our sites. A number of these sites have CCTV systems installed to combat the effects of illegal dumping. Enforcement of such illegal dumping continued to be priority in 2010. Through this enforcement action and the employment of a dedicated Bring Bank maintenance person, the Bring Banks in Sligo are now in excellent condition, so much so that other Councils are looking at the techniques employed by Sligo, which have achieved substantial savings.

 

Ballymote Bottle Banks

To view locations and details, please log on to:

http://www.sligococo.ie/Services/Environment/Recycling/BringBanks/

Casual Trading

In 2009 the Council had Designated Trading Areas at 7 locations in the County -

• Rosses Point
• Enniscrone
• Coolaney
• Tubbercurry
• Ballymote
• Riverstown
• Dromore West

There were 14 no. traders licensed in the County. Regular inspections were carried out by the Causal Trading Officer to ensure that the trading areas were being operated in accordance with the Casual Trading Bye Laws. 

Water Quality Management

Pollution Control

The introduction of the EU Water Framework Directive has placed a major focus on water quality. All our surface waters must achieve good status by 2015. River Basin Management Plans were published for all River Basin Catchments in 2010, which will determine policies for land-use in each catchment area. Sligo is part of three River Basin Districts, the Western, the North Western International and the Shannon International, with the majority of County Sligo in the Western River Basin District. Sligo County Council are committed to the monitoring of rivers and lakes listed in the National Monitoring Programme. A Groundwater Protection Plan completed by the GSI on our behalf in 2009 will be an important tool in implementing our obligations under the River Basin Management Plans.

 
- Ballisodare Bay

Bathing Water

The bathing water quality at five beaches in County Sligo was monitored during the 2010 bathing season (mid May – end August). Results of this monitoring were displayed locally at each of the beaches and on the Council’s Website throughout the 2010 bathing season. Overall, results showed full compliance with the mandatory bathing water standards and stricter guide standards. In 2010, Rosses Point beach was awarded Blue Flag Status, while Mullaghmore, Rosses Point, Streedagh and Dunmoran Beach were awarded the Green Coast Award. Lifeguard cover was provided at Rosses Point, Enniscrone, Streedagh and Dunmoran for the 2010 bathing season, along with Beach Warden cover for Strandhill and Enniscrone. Due to the ongoing Health and Safety issues, Mullaghmore beach was not covered by a Lifeguard service.

Drinking Water

The quality of drinking water in Ireland is governed by the EC (Drinking Water) (No.2) Regulations, 2007. These regulations assign the EPA the role of supervisory authority over public drinking water supplies, while local authorities are assigned a similar role over private drinking water supplies. These regulations provide powers of enforcement to ensure actions are taken where the quality of water is deficient. During 2010, all regulated public and private water supplies in Co Sligo were monitored in accordance with these regulations. In general, Sligo continues to enjoy a high standard of drinking water quality throughout the County. In addition to monitoring carried out at the consumers tap, monitoring and inspections are also carried out at drinking water abstraction points and in their catchments.

Licensed Discharges under the Water Pollution Acts

Sligo County Council licenses both effluent discharges to waters and sewers in accordance with the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977 and Local Government (Water Pollution)(Amendment) Act 1990 and associated Regulations. The licensing of trade effluent discharges to sewers and the enforcement of existing licences continued in 2010 and will continue in 2011 subject to the prioritisation in the annual work programme.

Licensing of trade effluents to waters and the review and enforcement of existing licences conditions will continue to be a priority in 2011.

Catchment Management

Water quality monitoring and management is governed by the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). Under the provisions of the Directive, River Basin District Management Plans were adopted in 2010. The plans detail specific measures that must be implemented to maintain existing “good status” and “high status” waters and improve water bodies currently not meeting the requirements of the Directive. There are a significant number of water bodies that require improvement. Specific measures include enforcement of existing national legislation and other measures detailed in the River Basin Management plans. Inspections will be targeted in areas throughout the County to address point and diffuse pollution relating to domestic wastewater, agricultural and commercial activities and forestry.

Work was undertaken in accordance with the Shellfish Pollution Reduction Programmes for our two designated shellfish waters (Sligo Bay and Drumcliff Bay). In 2009, Sligo Bay and Drumcliff Bay were designated as shellfish waters in accordance with the Shellfish Waters Directive and the Quality of Shellfish Waters Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 268 of 2006). These Regulations require the preparation of Pollution Reduction Programmes for each designated shellfish area with the objective of protecting or improving water quality in the designated shellfish areas. The DoEHLG has prepared Pollution Reduction Programmes for Sligo Bay and Drumcliff Bay which must be implemented by Sligo County Council. Reports on the implementation of the Pollution Reduction Programmes must be submitted to the DOEHLG on an annual basis. The Pollution Reduction Programmes aim to achieve protection and improvement in water quality through the use of the following actions or measures:

• Improvements in local authority wastewater treatment infrastructure;
• Licensing of local authority wastewater treatment infrastructure;
• Agricultural wastewater surveys;
• Domestic wastewater surveys;
• Licensing of commercial premises under Section 4 and 16 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977 as amended.

Implementation plans for the year 2010 were prepared and submitted to the DoEHLG. Increased catchment management surveys will be required in these particular catchment areas into the future in order to bring about improvements in water quality as required by the Pollution Reduction Programmes. The Pollution Reduction Programmes may be reviewed at intervals to determine if additional actions or measures are required.

Water Pollution

Enforcement of water pollution legislation is an important element in ensuring good water quality. In 2010, the Environment Section investigated water pollution complaints on a priority basis and took enforcement action where necessary under relevant water pollution legislation.

Planning Applications

The Environmental Section continues to assess and make recommendations on all commercial, agricultural applications and domestic planning applications located in sensitive areas, in addition to forestry applications. Work continued to be carried out in 2010 to improve the quality of design information being submitted for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OSWWTS). During 2010, considerable work was carried out in relation to carrying out a review of the existing site assessors panel. Interviews for a new panel were carried out and it is intended to have the new panel fully operational by March/April 2011.

Noise Control

The Section provided advice and information on residential and commercial noise under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992.

Air Pollution 

The section continued to enforce the two Air Pollution Licences and provided advice and information on odours and air pollution complaints. 

The Enforcement section continued to enforce the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuels within the restricted area of Sligo and actively pursued anyone found to be in breach of the Regulations.

Water Safety

In 2010, Sligo County Council employed the following staff on our beaches for the Bathing Season.

Rosses Point	2 Part-time Life Guards for weekends in June   3 full-time Life Guards for July and August
Streedagh	2 Part-time Life Guards for weekends in June  3 full-time Life Guards for July and August
Enniscrone	2 Part-time Life Guards for weekends in June  3 full-time Life Guards for July and August
Dunmoran	2 Part-time Life Guards for weekends in July and August
Strandhill	2 Part-time Beach Wardens for weekends in June  2 full-time Beach Wardens for July and August
Enniscrone	1 Part-time Beach Warden for weekends in June  1 full-time Beach Warden for July and August

Sligo County Council Beach Bye-Laws govern the beaches at Enniscrone, Mullaghmore, Streedagh, Rosses Point, Dunmoran, Aughris and Strandhill, Co. Sligo.Enforcement of the Bye-laws by Life Guards, Beach Wardens and Authorised Staff was a priority for 2010.

Food Safety

In 2010, Sligo County Council continued to implement all relevant food safety legislation under the Service Contract between Sligo County Council and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. This included the supervision of two abattoirs slaughtering cattle, sheep, pigs and deer. Two meat plants were also under supervision. The Food Safety Authority funded the contract but this was reduced by 5% in 2010. The Service Contract is due to be updated early in of 2011.

Control of Dogs and Horses

The Control of Dogs Act and The Control of Horses Act are the main pieces of welfare legislation that the Veterinary Office has responsibility for. The economic downturn has resulted in a significant increase in the number of complaints about horse welfare. A number of seizures have taken place in 2010 in both Tubbercurry and Sligo town. 

The promised increase in the Dog licence fee from €12.70 to €20.00 was included in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act passed in 2010 and this is due to come into effect in 2011.

The Dog shelter continues to re-home the bulk of dogs which are surrendered/collected from the General Public. In 2010 considerable work has also been done in re-homing dogs where possible. The “Adopt a dog” section on the web-site is proving very successful in rehoming dogs. Pictures and a brief description are put on the web and the contact details for the shelter are also given.

Climate Change

Energy Usage and Actions - Overview of energy usage in 2010

Electricity accounted for 85% of the Council’s total energy usage in 2010 and fossil fuels for the remaining 15%. Of the electricity consumed, 64% was used by Water Services for water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations. Public Lighting accounted for a further 23% and the balance powered lighting, appliances and IT/office equipment within public buildings, offices and premises.

Of the electricity used to provide Water Services, 49% (4,185MWh) was consumed by privately-managed DBO (Design-Build-Operate) facilities. Table 1 includes DBO consumption.

Table 1: Breakdown of electricity consumption in 2010

Electricity Consumer	Consumption in MWh
Water Services	8,639
Public Lighting	3,126
Buildings	1,816
Total	13,581

Of the total fossil fuel consumption, 63% was attributable to space and water heating in buildings, including heating of DBO Water Services facilities. The remainder was used by the fleet and machinery yard.

Table 2: Total energy consumption in 2010 

Type of energy	Consumption in MWh
Electricity	13,581
Fossil Fuels	2,981
Total	16,562

Energy Efficiency Actions Undertaken in 2010

Sligo County Council is committed to continual improvement in energy efficiency in its drive to minimise energy consumption, avoid wastage, reduce carbon emissions and cut costs. This effort is championed by a cross-departmental Climate Change Working Group that was established in 2009. During 2010, a variety of measures was taken to lay the foundation for better energy management practice across the organisation and to achieve energy savings in some key areas. These actions included:

• Staffing - Appointment of an Energy Officer and a Climate Change Co-Ordinator to drive the Council’s energy efficiency programme.
• Training - In-house energy management training attended by 23 staff.
• Electricity procurement - Electricity supply put to tender with an expected costsaving of ca. €40,000 in 2011.
• Water services -
• Installation of aeration process controls at Ballymote Wastewater Treatment Plant and process optimisation at six other Treatment Plants
• Installation of variable speed pump and new control system at North Sligo Water Supply Scheme
• Installation of new efficient chopper pumps and new control systems at Strandhill and Rosses Point waste water pumping stations.
• Efficiency upgrade of pumps at South Sligo Water Supply Scheme.
• Buildings - Grant-aided lighting, heating and insulation improvements undertaken in County Hall in 2009 resulted in estimated savings of €7,000 in energy bills in 2010.
• IT and office equipment/consumables - Energy efficiencies and economies promoted by, inter alia, adjusting equipment default settings, holding staff briefing sessions and encouraging scanning in preference to printing.
• Staff travel - Cycle to Work Scheme promoted and 27 staff members facilitated. Bicycle-parking provided at all Council Offices in Sligo City.
• Energy Awarenes - Climate Change/Energy efficiency awareness-raising sessions held for staff.

Other Actions included an electrical audit of 140 no. Council sites and a wood pellet feasibility study for wood energy heating of three public buildings. 

Energy Efficiency Actions Planned for 2011

By the end of 2011, Sligo County Council expects to have achieved quantifiable energy savings under a range of headings. To this end, it is intended to make significant strides on the procedural side to develop an effective energy monitoring, measuring and reporting system. This will include protocols for energy bills analysis and maintenance of equipment and improving the capture and retrieval of reliable data. Additional energy audits will be conducted and Energy Performance Indicators will be established for a range of premises and facilities. Through further staff awareness, involvement and training, and the inclusion of energy efficiency on all staff/team meeting agendas, a stronger energy efficient culture will be nurtured across the organisation.

Alongside these measures, a range of specific low-cost initiatives will be implemented or progressed, including the following:

Water Services

• Funding received under the Rural Water Programme’s “Energy Efficiency Initiative” will enable projects to be completed in 2011, including the installation of variable speed pumps and a new control system at Lough Talt and Riverstown Water Supply Schemes. It is also intended to further improve power consumption and efficiency monitoring for each scheme, thereby generating real-time data of savings.

Public Lighting

• Explore and identify opportunities for energy savings 

Main Office Buildings

• Continue to identify and rectify problems occurring with heating and Building Management Systems
• Install oil meters and graph oil consumption versus degree day data Bio-energy
• Participate in the Western Development Commission’s Local Authority Renewable Heat Initiative funded under the EU RASLRES Programme (Regional Approaches to Stimulating Local Renewable Energy Solutions). The objective is to promote and develop strategies and initiatives for the bio-energy sector in the West Region.

IT / Office Equipment

• Implement automatic shutdown of PCs outside of office hours in all County Council offices resulting in an estimated saving of 26.67MWh annually 
• Implement virtualisation to reduce the number of servers required by 20%, thereby generating an estimated annual saving of 17MWh

Staff Travel

• Purchase 10 Local Authority bicycles and promote their use for local meetings and inspections and travel between Offices
• Conduct a survey of staff travel and publicise the results 
• Promote car-pooling, cycling and walking to work
• Encourage further participation in the Cycle to Work Scheme 

Fleet

• Roll out a Fuel Management System to reduce fossil fuel consumption by the fleet
• Introduce bio-fuels for three Council vehicles 

Energy Awareness

• Continue to raise staff awareness of energy issues