Environment

Clean-up operation swings into gear at Sutton’s Burrow Beach

Council urges day-trip revellers to ‘play their part’ by bringing rubbish home or using bins provided

Rubbish including beer bottles, wine and prosecco bottles, plastic and paper cups and bottles, soiled nappies, shoes, underwear and towels left behind by sunbathers on the Burrow Beach, Sutton. Photograph: Padraig O'Reilly

Dominque Farrell
Tue Jul 19 2022 - 19:07

Beer bottles, soiled nappies and disposable barbeque trays were among the detritus littering Burrow Beach in Sutton, Dublin, early Tuesday morning.

Fingal County Council staff spent several hours cleaning the beach following record-breaking weather on Monday during which large crowds flocked to the strand.

The council urged “beach users to play their part by bringing their rubbish home or using the bins provided”.

The council said extra staff have been put on duty at all beaches to remove discarded litter due to the “substantial use” in the public use of beaches in recent days. It has also put out additional large bins and toilets.

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While many reacting to photographs on social media blame the litter on the lack of bins, local Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan said a combination of extra resources and personal responsibility would make a difference in keeping the beaches clean.

“The council has put out more bins, but there needs to be a stronger presence from the council and the gardaí, especially in terms of traffic management when there is a large number of people at the beaches,” said Mr O’Callaghan. “What’s needed from the council when you have such high traffic, which is only a few days a year, is a permanent presence to empty and replace bins.”

Beachgoers enjoy the sun at Burrow Beach in Sutton, Co Dublin.

Irish Business Against Litter’s (Ibal) Conor Horgan said that beachgoers need to be responsible and take their rubbish home when no bins are available.

“What we have to combat is that unlike on the continent, going to the beach in Ireland tends to be an occasional event for families and they don’t always prepare well,” said Mr Horgan. “That means that they don’t prepare to take their rubbish home with them. That’s the message that needs to get through.”

Outdoor activities have increased during the past two years with Covid.

“We’ve seen a noticeable increase in alcohol-related litter generally being in our public parks [and on] our beaches. And that’s because people are consuming alcohol outdoors much more than they were,” said Mr Horgan.

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