In addition, seven large transit van loads of bulky items were removed from roadsides, including three mattresses, 11 car tyres, a shopping trolley, two bicycles, four televisions and three large bags of soiled nappies.

Councillors have claimed that even greater volumes of rubbish are being collected from rural roads across North Cork by council staff and Tidy Towns volunteers. Large-scale illegal dumping is also becoming increasingly common in forestry areas, with much of the waste described as household clear-outs.

The litter problem was initially highlighted by councillors several months ago, prompting them to write to environment minister Alan Dillon.

They sought the introduction of community service orders that would require offenders to take part in litter-picking and clean-up operations as a form of restorative justice.

However, councillors expressed disappointment after Mr Dillon responded that there is currently no legislation planned to facilitate such measures and declined to indicate whether any proposals were under consideration.

Charleville-based Fine Gael councillor Aileen Browne has since renewed her call for courts to impose community service penalties on those convicted of littering.

"The amount of litter and illegally dumped waste collected along our roads is shocking. While I want to commend council staff for their hard work and dedication in carrying out this clean-up, it’s deeply disappointing such a large operation's required in the first place,” she said. 

“This is the result of repeated irresponsible behaviour by a minority of people who have little regard for their local community, the environment or the taxpayer."

Ms Browne said that while significant fines are available under existing legislation, many people feel these alone are not always an effective deterrent.

She argued that those convicted of littering and illegal dumping should be required to give something back to the communities they have damaged.

"Rather than simply paying a fine, offenders should be ordered to participate in supervised litter picks, environmental improvement projects and community clean-up initiatives. Such an approach would provide a visible consequence for offenders while directly helping to repair the damage caused,” she said.

“Anyone who has spent a day collecting litter from roadsides will quickly appreciate the impact these actions have on communities and on the council staff tasked with cleaning up after others."

Cllr Browne added that every euro spent removing illegally dumped waste is money that could otherwise be invested in local services and infrastructure.

"The vast majority of people dispose of their waste responsibly, and it's unfair that taxpayers should continue to foot the bill for the careless actions of a small minority. We need stronger measures that focus on changing behaviour while helping to restore the areas affected," she said.

Chairman of the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District, Fianna Fáil councillor Gearóid Murphy, also expressed disappointment with Mr Dillon’s response.

He said the council would write to the minister again seeking clarification on why the Government is not considering the introduction of community service orders for litter offences.