Westmeath County Council recently launched a cinema advertising campaign, aimed at promoting awareness around illegal dumping.

Given that rural areas like this are vulnerable to fly-tippers, I thought people might like to know about this.

For the next few weeks, moviegoers in Athlone and Mullingar will be shown an animation intended to remind viewers of their responsibilities around waste disposal. The ad also outlines the consequences of using unlicensed waste disposal contractors.

Great work has been done by groups in our local community to draw attention to this issue. When out and about – please dispose of your rubbish properly or take it home with you – it’s not much to ask. And always check that you are using a properly licensed waste management company to dispose of household rubbish and other debris. Failure could well result in a hefty fine.

Remember that you can report fly-tipping to Westmeath County Council via email to customercare@westmeathcoco.ie or using their freephone number – 1800 819 000.