Zero fines issued for uncollected bins in Louth over four years

Louth County Council have not issued a fine for uncollected household bins in over four years. 

Figures obtained by Louth Live through a Freedom of Information request reveal that between 2022 and mid-December 2025 there had not been a single fixed penalty notice issued in the county. 

It comes despite concerns having being raised by councillors that bins were not being collected, with some households also not having a waste disposal provider.

In the December meeting of Louth County Council, Director of Services, Operations and Environmental Delivery, David Hanratty said a reverse register was in place. 

Louth County Council said it had identified that 16.5% of households in Castleross in Dundalk do not have a kerbside waste collection, and that the waste enforcement team has corresponded with each household identified as not having a kerbside waste collection service.

Although, no fixed penalties had been applied to that area, Mr Hanratty said they had been applied elsewhere. 

Under the Louth County Council (Segregation, Storage, and Presentation of Household and Commercial Waste) Byelaws 2019 householder are required to comply using one of the following options:

1. Registration with one of the local waste collectors for the provision of bins to allow for kerbside collection of household waste or
2. Bring segregated household waste to a Transfer Station/Civic Amenity Site as required. All receipts as proof of this are required to be submitted.

Householders that fail to provide evidence of one of the above will be subject to a €75 fixed penalty notice. 

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Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District Cllr Robert Nash described the figures as "disappointing" but questioned if bin providers had not yet given the relevant data to Louth County Council. 

Independent councillor said the figures don't match what he had been told by the council and said "ultimately we have bylaws that are not being enforced". 

"There is a growing issue with bin presentation and I think that is plain to see." 

Cllr Fisher said only through education, engagement and enforcement will the problem get better. 

Louth County Council have been asked for comment. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.