Two border counties have spent more than €1.6 million over the past five years to clean up toxic sludge left behind by illegal diesel laundering activities.
Since 2020, Louth County Council has spent €1.12 million on cleaning up waste from fuel smugglers, while Monaghan County Council reported spending nearly €500,000.
Diesel laundering involves removing a green dye from rebated green fuel, also known as marked mineral oil, to make it appear colorless. However, this process leaves behind harmful toxic sludge, which is often dumped by the roadside, causing significant environmental damage and leading to costly clean-ups for local authorities.
Between 2020 and mid-2024, the two councils conducted more than 222 clean-up operations. On average, each operation cost around €7,300. In one quarter of 2023 alone, Louth County Council spent €156,000 to address a large-scale dumping incident.
The clean-up costs have risen significantly in Louth, nearly doubling from €188,000 in 2020 to €361,000 in 2023.
In contrast, Donegal and Cavan councils reported no costs related to diesel laundering, stating the issue does not affect their areas.
Diesel laundering became a major concern for the government in the 2010s, as it was found to cost the State €861 million annually due to the black market.
A spokesperson for Monaghan County Council noted that the issue of dumping ‘diesel wash’ has been ongoing for about 25 years. The council has dealt with numerous dumping incidents, resulting in substantial clean-up and disposal costs for taxpayers.
“The aftermath of diesel laundering continues to cause significant costs, along with potential environmental and health hazards,” the spokesperson said. They urged anyone with information about diesel laundering or illegal dumping to report it to their local garda station.
Responding to questions about the more than €1 million spent on tackling illegal waste from fuel smuggling, a representative from Louth County Council stated that the council is working closely with gardaí and Revenue to address the issue.
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