These images show the locations of sites along the Irish border (North Louth/South Armagh/South Down) where illegal dumping of toxic sludge has taken place. This sludge is a byproduct of the illegal diesel laundering industry. This work explores this black market industry by looking at its cause and effect on this border region.

 

The current economic climate has created the market for diesel-laundered fuel. The level of unemployment in Ireland has meant that people must travel a greater distance for work, thus increasing the reliance on petrol and diesel, but in this time of austerity, high taxation has driven up fuel costs.

 

This industry greatly affects this region as valuable resources are being used to stop production and the subsequent dumping of the byproduct. All at a cost to the taxpayer.