Less than half of country’s towns considered clean, survey shows

FOR the first time in 13 years, less than half of the towns throughout the country were considered clean, according to a national litter survey.

The Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) group said the decline in cleanliness was a case of “poorer areas getting worse” and “previously clean towns slipping”.

Kilkenny was named as the cleanest town for 2020 for a record fifth time in the IBAL report. The news comes as the second nationwide litter survey by the business group since the Covid-19 pandemic reveals a sharp rise in litter levels nationwide.

Praising Kilkenny in its report, An Taisce commented: “There is surely a lesson in this result for other towns – while the majority of towns have deteriorated during Covid, Kilkenny has been maintained in pristine condition.” The High Street, River Nore Walk and grounds of Kilkenny Castle were all “excellent with regard to not just litter, but overall presentation”.

Reports of major increases in personal protective equipment and coffee cup litter were mentioned in the study.

Ballymun and Dublin’s North Inner City were named amongst the worst areas for littering.

For the first time in 13 years, less than half of the towns throughout the country were considered clean.

Litter levels rose in 24 of the 37 towns and cities monitored at the end of 2020, resulting in only 17 being judged to be clean.

IBAL spokesperson Conor Horgan said the results were consistent with a trend in recent years.

“The decline in cleanliness is less a case of the poorer areas getting worse, but of previously clean towns slipping to littered. Covid is clearly a factor here, but we should never accept litter as inevitable.

“It comes down to people disposing of their waste without regard for their surroundings or their fellow citizens and it is entirely unnecessary,” he added.

One explanation for the rise in litter lies in the restrictions surrounding cleaning services during the pandemic.

“While council workers have not been on the streets as much as normal, the general public has been spending more time than ever out of doors.

“There was a sharp rise in the amounts of litter on approach roads to towns, reflecting the fact that the benign winter has seen masses of people out walking.

“Ironically, too many of them are showing a shameful disregard for the environment they are enjoying,” Mr Horgan added.