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Government · Ireland
Updated September 2026

🗑️ Someone dumped waste or is polluting — who do I report it to?

Direct answer

Fly-tipping, a leaking container, oil in a stream: report to Your city or county council (gov.ie) — the municipality clears public land and fines when there is evidence (a photo of the plate, a document in the waste). Larger pollution, industrial sites, chemicals, dead fish: HSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspection (hse.ie), the environmental inspectorate, which has a 24-hour line in most countries. Dumping in progress with a vehicle: An Garda Síochána (garda.ie) — do not confront.

Call firstYour city or county council
Report toHSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspection
If that failsAn Garda Síochána

🗣️ What to say

"At [location] there is [dumped waste / a pollution: what], since [date/time]. [Plate / description of vehicle or person if seen.] Photos attached. Please remove it and investigate; I can be contacted at [number] / anonymously."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Photograph, do not touchWide and close shots; anything with a name or plate. Do not search through it.
  2. Report: Your city or county councilOnline form or app; the municipality clears public land within days.
  3. Pollution: HSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspectionChemicals, oil, smoke, smell from a site, water discoloration — the inspectorate, immediately.
  4. In progress: An Garda SíochánaA vehicle unloading: police, with the plate. Do not confront.
  5. Private landThe owner must clear it; the municipality can order and fine. Report anyway.

📇 All contacts

Your city or county councilNuisances, roads, waste, lost property, environmental complaintsFor anything the council handles🔗 www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/1a5c8-local-authorities
HSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspectionUnfit housing, mould, pests, noise, food hygieneWhen health is at risk at home🔗 www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/environ
An Garda SíochánaReport at any station or via the Garda websiteAlways — you need the PULSE reference for the bank🔗 www.garda.ie/en/crime/fraud
EPA — Environmental Protection AgencyLicensed-site inspection, pollution complaintsIndustrial pollution, illegal dumping at scale📞 053 916 0600🔗 www.epa.ie

❓ Frequently asked

Can I be fined for waste dumped in front of my house?

Not if you report it and it is not yours. Reporting protects you.

Asbestos or drums of chemicals

Stay away, keep children and pets away, report to HSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspection as hazardous. Specialist removal is arranged by the authority.

A neighbour burns rubbish

Prohibited nearly everywhere; report to Your city or county council with times and photos of the smoke; repeated burning goes to HSE Environmental Health Service / council housing inspection.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “report illegal dumping Ireland”
  • “fly tipping report municipality”
  • “environmental pollution hotline Ireland”
  • “report chemical spill”
  • “neighbour burning waste”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

💡Broken streetlight→🐀Pests→📩Object to a decision→⚡Power outage→

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