PALLETS AND CARDBOARD are often stolen at this time of the year to make up illegal bonfires.
Business owners are being urged to do what they can to try and stop opportunistic thieves.
Mark Baker, who runs Baker & Co Insulations, spends 40 minutes a day making sure his company’s pallets are stored inside after a bad experience a few years ago.
Baker told TheJournal.ie that a secure yard with electric gates didn’t deter the culprits.
They climbed over the gates and threw the pallets over. They take milk trolleys from shops and they stack the pallets on them.
“They left a trail of destruction behind them, it was just a mess.”
Baker added that the pallets aren’t expensive but he thinks companies should be responsible.
A lot of places don’t mind but I’m conscious of the kids.
“We go through around 100 pallets a week and we recycle them when we have a full load of around 300 pallets. ”
At this time of the year, he spends around 20 minutes putting the pallets inside in the evenings, and another 20 minutes every morning taking them out again before the working day can start.
Baker said that he noticed children starting to collect pallets and cardboard last Monday, he added that some were as young as 12 or 13.
Dublin Fire Brigade launched their safe Halloween campaign last week and are calling on businesses to do what they can do stop dangerous bonfires.
Lord Mayor Brendan Carr said, “Bonfires are not only illegal, they are extremely dangerous and together with fireworks, can cause a lot of injuries and damage.
“I am asking all citizens to report any issues regarding the storage or distribution of bonfire material to Dublin City Council.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say