Tralee and Killarney mixed results in litter league

NEITHER Tralee nor Killarney has fared particularly well in the final results of the 2017 IBAL Litter League.

Tralee climbed two places in the league, but is still considered moderately littered, while Killarney, through considered clean, fell out of the top ten.

The League – run by An Taisce on behalf of the Irish Business Against Litter environmental alliance of businesses – sees 41 Irish towns and city centres rated and ranked according to the their cleanliness.

In the final 2017 league table – which was published on Tuesday – Killarney slipped eight places to 16th position, and in doing so dropped out of the top ten.

The tourist Mecca has slumped in the League but An Taisce judges still considered it ‘clean to European norms’.

Tralee moved up two positions – from 33rd to 31st place – but unfortunately the county town was again deemed to be ‘moderately littered’.

An Taisce’s report stated that a small number of moderately littered sites prevented Killarney from attaining a higher ranking.

“Some of the top-ranking sites were not just clear of litter but particularly well-presented and maintained e.g. Muckross House and the Jarvey Park – it wasn’t just the lack of litter which sets them apart but also the overall presentation and maintenance of same. Main Street just missed getting the top litter grade. There were no heavily littered sites,” said the judges.

In their report the judges said that while Tralee remains moderately littered, the town has improved since the last survey was completed in September 2017.

“Tralee has edged closer to Clean status, after an improved result on the previous survey in 2017,” said the report.

“The Mall was looking particularly well after extensive works to pedestrianise the area – all aspects of the area surveyed were in excellent order. Some of the moderately littered sites just missed getting the top litter grade e.g. Rock Street and Castle Street – Upper and Lower,” said the judges.

“By far the most heavily littered site surveyed in Tralee was a site on Godfrey Place – one part of this site was being used as a car park and there was a constant stream of litter around the perimeter of the car park,” the report said.

According to the final 2017 IBAL survey, last year saw falls in the prevalence of fast food wrappers, plastic bottles and dog fouling.

However chewing gum, cigarette butts and cans continue to be major sources of litter in most towns and cities.