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Old Posted: 07-01-2008 , 06:17 PM #1
Chris P
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Default "Ireland almost as clean as its European neighbours"

"Minister Killeen Welcomes Improvement in Litter-Free Areas"
(Dept of the Environment Press Release - 07/01/08)


The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. Tony Killeen, TD, today welcomed the final results of the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) 2007 Litter League, released earlier today. He noted that the levels of litter pollution have declined significantly since surveying first commenced in 2002 when just 2 towns achieved litter-free status, with 22 towns now achieving that standing. “We must not become complacent,” he said, “but it is encouraging to see an improvement in the level of litter-free areas as reported by IBAL.”

The Minister congratulated the towns that improved their position in 2007 and also those who maintained their litter-free status. “The battle against litter must be unrelenting,“ said the Minister. “Only through a sustained effort by all concerned - the public, businesses, local authorities and the Department – can we win this fight.”

The Minister noted IBAL's report that Ireland is now almost as clean as its European neighbours. He said the next step is to strive to surpass our European counterparts in 2008.

ENDS

Source:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment...y,16376,en.htm
__________________________________________________ _______
Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) website:
http://www.ibal.ie/v1/default.php?content=index.php
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Old Posted: 07-01-2008 , 06:24 PM #2
Chris P
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Default Dublin is Dirty and Dear, according to European Litter Survey

Dublin is Dirty and Dear, according to European Litter Survey
Dublin lags behind other European cities when it comes to litter
(IBAL Press Release MONDAY 22nd October 2007)

Dubliners are paying a high price to live in the capital, both in the shops and on the streets, as a survey today indicates that Dublin is among the dirtiest cities in Europe – despite being one of the most expensive. IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter), who are responsible for the survey; believe that the lack of litter fine enforcement plays a large part in Dublin’s litter problem.

The survey, conducted by IBAL and An Taisce, found that Dublin had the most litter on its streets when compared with nine other major European cities including Riga, Vienna, Strasbourg, Cologne, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Zurich, Stockholm and Amsterdam. The Latvian capital, Riga, was the cleanest city surveyed.

“In the main, major European cities are clean - the survey shows this” said Dr Tom Cavanagh, Chairman, IBAL. “While Dublin has improved in recent years, it is some way behind cities on the Continent. There is no good reason it cannot be on a par with these cities. Indeed, it needs to be, for the sake of tourism, business investment, and the quality of life of its citizens”.

“It’s unacceptable,” continued Dr Cavanagh. “Dublin is a thriving, modern European city with a global reputation, a very high cost of living but a chronic litter problem. There is so much money being spent on re-developing the city, but not enough spent on keeping it clean. Businesses in particular are not being held accountable for the litter outside their premises as the Litter Act states, and we call on the Minister for the Environment to address this along with the Dublin City Manager. Enforcement does not add to the cost. On the contrary it should be a source of revenue”

The IBAL survey is particularly embarrassing given Dublin’s well-publicised affluence – of the 10 European cities surveyed; the Irish capital is the third most expensive. *

“Serious litter problems” in Dublin

The survey revealed that Dublin “had the highest number of areas with serious litter problems”. While some of the city’s main streets were only lightly littered, in many cases it was the environs and nearby approaches, which brought down the overall result.

The areas surrounding O’ Connell Street, St Stephens Green, the Guinness Hopstore, Christchurch Cathedral, Temple Bar and Heuston Station all had serious litter problems, with the survey noting that “the care and attention which the main sites get does not extend to the environs”. Dublin was also the only city to have a “litter blackspot”; the roads around Croke Park, which was the worst area out of the 200 surveyed. It was also in stark contrast to most stadiums in the survey, in particular Nou Camp in Barcelona, which was branded “Clean“

Riga was top of the European anti-litter league table and was declared a “Clean” city and the survey comments noted, “The overall impression was of a city which was in spotless condition” not just the main areas but also the environs. Amsterdam and Dublin were both branded “Littered” cities. In Vienna, which came second in the survey and was also declared “Clean” 30 new Litter Sheriffs have been appointed to enforce litter fines.

Chewing gum “the biggest problem”

Chewing gum was heavily present in all areas throughout the 10 cities surveyed and IBAL cited it as the greatest problem we face.

“Chewing gum is filthy and very costly to remove from the streets, the costs are such that local authorities cannot finance the cleanup. We believe that the cost of removal should not be borne by the taxpayer but by the polluter, either the consumer or the manufacturer,” added Dr Cavanagh. This means a tax on all non-biodegradable chewing gum and the proceeds of which would be sent straight to local authorities to clean the gum from their streets. This is in the keeping with the policy of “the polluter pays” which is the backbone of all environmental legislation in Europe. It is high time that Minister John Gormley finally introduces such a tax”
-ENDS-

For further information contact Claire or Dawn in Cullen Communications.
Tel 01 6689099/ 087 7819 375 / 087 215 6942 or cogrady@cullenencommunications.ie

Editors note:
Set up in 1996, Irish Business Against Litter is an alliance of companies sharing a belief that continued economic prosperity - notably in the areas of tourism, food and direct foreign investment - is contingent on a clean, litter-free environment.

The IBAL European Litter Survey examined key tourist areas including train stations, parks, main streets universities, museums and churches or cathedrals and their surroundings.

*According to the Mercer Cost of Living Survey March 2007

IBAL European Anti- Litter League

Survey Ranking Status
1.Riga Clean
2.Vienna Clean
3.Strasbourg Clean
4.Cologne Clean
5.Barcelona Clean
6.Copenhagen Clean
7.Zurich Clean
8.Stockholm Moderately Littered
9.Amsterdam Littered
10.Dublin Littered

Source: http://www.ibal.ie/v1/default.php?co...ssreleases.php
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