Annual Operation Leads to Reduction in Bonfires and Air Quality Damage

Our Environmental Enforcement Unit has successfully led an annual operation to reduce the volume of bonfires in the County, removing over 37 tonnes of flammable materials to protect our open spaces and air quality during Halloween. This year's operation, one of the largest in recent years, involved a response team of over 24 staff from our Environmental Enforcement Unit, Parks, and Housing departments. Together, they worked to identify and recover as much flammable material as possible across the County ahead of Halloween night.

Councillor Jim O'Leary, Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said:

“We would like to thank the public for engaging with our Environmental Enforcement Team and reporting bonfire stockpiles. We received over 140 reports of bonfire materials this year and the collection of materials would not have been possible without the invaluable information and local knowledge the public provided”.

The Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA) estimates that there are approximately 1,300 premature deaths in Ireland each year due to particulate matter in the air. By preventing bonfires where plastics, tires, mattresses, and other waste products are burned, we can help reduce the volume of harmful particles in our air.

Thanks to the early morning collection operations facilitated by An Garda Síochána, only 13 callouts were reported in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area out of 166 total callouts in County Dublin. This successful collaboration ensured that Dublin Fire Brigade attended to only six call outs in relation to bonfires.

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, highlighted the teamwork and coordination of staff in this year's successful operation:

“Over 37 tonnes of materials removed during this operation is a significant achievement. The dedication and hard work of our staff and the support from the public have made a positive impact on the safety and environmental health of our County this Halloween season”.

Please click here to find out more information about air quality in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Area.