Clean bill of health in litter survey

Ennis, along with most of the country, has received a clean bill of health once again in the latest survey by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL). Ennis is in joint 15th position, holding onto its ‘clean to European norms’ status and moving up from 21st place last year.
An Taisce, who carried out the survey, commented on Ennis, “An excellent result for Ennis, with seven out of the 10 sites surveyed getting the top litter grade – hopefully this will be maintained to year-end.”
The Remembrance Garden and Cusack Lawn (residential) were both singled out for high praise by the league. The IBAL adjudicators found the Remembrance Garden to be “a particularly well-presented and maintained environment”. While Cusack Lawn was described as “a very well cared for residential environment, the individual houses/gardens and communal green areas were not just completely clear of litter but very well maintained”.
Three of the four approach roads surveyed by IBAL in Ennis were top ranking. The M18 approach in to Barefield Roundabout was commended, with the report outlining, “A very good first impression of Ennis is created along this road, not just virtually clear of litter but planted grass and young trees contribute to overall appearance.”
The N85 Ennistymon approach road was also given a grade A mark, with the surveyors deeming it, “A welcoming and presentable approach route into Ennis, all aspects were in good order.” The R474 Miltown Malbay approach road also scored highly.
“The approach road was very clean and tidy and the properties along it were in a very good state of repair, top marks all around.” Casually dropped litter at the R458 junction at Barefield Roundabout to the next roundabout brought this area down a grade in the survey. Attaining a B grade and deemed moderately littered, the route was described as having an overall good presentation “but it was let down by some casually discarded plastic bottles and fast food wrappers on the grassy path at the roadside. With a little extra care, this could easily be a top ranking site”.
The Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis scored very well in the survey. Judges described it as “an excellent site, particularly given that it was undergoing major renovation/construction work. All areas visible were clear of litter and clean and tidy and the grass was neatly trimmed”.
Nationally, supermarkets and fast food outlets were the sites found to be most likely to be heavily littered. However, McDonald’s in Ennis bucked this trend with the IBAL league giving it a Grade A mark. “This was a very clean and tidy outlet with large bins and outdoor tables and chairs. The paved area was clear of chewing gum. There was a virtual absence of litter at this site,” the report outlined.
Among the three moderately littered sites found by the litter league surveyors were the town council car park at Remembrance Garden and the Ennis Leisure Centre Complex.
Commenting on the car park, the IBAL report states, “The care and attention of many of the other sites surveyed in Ennis is somewhat lacking at this site. The planted areas were particularly neglected, with last year’s flowers and collections of litter. There was also some litter in the corner of the paved surfaces.”
The Ennis Leisure Centre complex was also given a Grade B, with the report outlining, “The loose litter in the shrubbery areas took away from an otherwise very good site. Grass was well tended, railings were fresh and the pansies added a splash of colour.”
The league table of 53 areas across the country showed two-thirds of towns and cities to be clean to European norms. Also, for the first time since the League began, Killarney took the accolade of cleanest town. The cleanliness rating for the country as whole (82) was the highest since IBAL began its surveys 10 years ago, with over 20 towns deemed to be cleaner than European equivalents.
Dr Tom Cavanagh, chairman of IBAL, praised the efforts of towns across the country in showing their best side to tourists.
Meanwhile, IBAL warned that the economic downturn has led to specific litter problems, with the rise in vacant commercial properties, alongside ghost estates and derelict sites, an increasing issue. “No one feels responsible for such areas, which are often eyesores and magnets for litter,” says Dr Cavanagh. “On the one hand, local authorities need to pursue absentee landlords who fail to maintain these sites. On the other, the problem calls for volunteerism by local communities.”  
According to the nationwide survey, sweet wrappers were the most prevalent source of litter, followed by cigarette butts, fast food wrappings, plastic bottles and chewing gum.
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.
As part of the IBAL Anti-Litter League, An Taisce monitors all towns of population 6,000 and over independently in accordance with international grading standards. The programme is run in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Visit www.ibal.ie for further information.