The annual survey provides a comprehensive assessment of litter levels across Ireland, taking into account factors such as the cleanliness of roads, public areas, access roads and general wasteland.
For Kilkenny, Maynooth finished in the top five, followed by Mallow and then Sligo. Kilkenny finished fourth, with Mullingar completing the final top five.
Ten of the eight sites in Kilkenny inspected by IBAL received the highest litter grade, but none of the Kilkenny sites were found to have significant amounts of litter.
Top-ranked locations in Kilkenny included the Bottle Bank at St Canis Car Park, St Kieran’s Street, The Mall, High Street and Kilkenny Castle Park.
Not only were these sites good for litter, but the overall presentation and maintenance of the site was rated as ‘excellent’.
Mayor Jo Malone expressed pride in Kilkenny’s achievements, saying: “This ranking reflects the dedication and hard work of our community, Kilkenny City Regional Office, Keep Kilkenny Beautiful and our business owners. Yes,” he said.
“Kilkenny City’s successful anti-litter efforts have not only enhanced the city’s aesthetic appearance, but also had a positive impact on tourism and economic development. A cleaner, more attractive city is more welcoming to visitors. It fosters a positive atmosphere while also attracting potential investors and businesses.This outcome is an opportunity for Kilkenny to further strengthen its reputation as a destination of excellence. ”
Kilkenny County Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer Mags Whelan said: “What stands out in Kilkenny is a reduction in litter, which has led to a significant improvement in overall cleanliness.”
“This achievement is the result of a number of initiatives undertaken in recent years to reduce litter and promote responsible waste management. The authorities, community groups, volunteers, the local Tidy Towns group ‘Keep Kilkenny Beautiful’, and The collaborative efforts of residents played a key role in achieving this remarkable progress. ”
Nationwide, for the first time since the survey began 20 years ago, no areas were found where “serious trash was being left behind”. Nationwide, the amount of garbage increased slightly, but more than 60% of the towns surveyed were considered clean in 2023.
Waterford has once again been named the cleanest city, beating out Galway. These are the only cities judged to be ‘clean’, with Cork city center improving to ‘moderately litter free’. But Dublin, along with Limerick, fell into ‘littering’.
While this recent report found improvements in waste levels across the country, IBAL claims these levels will only improve once the deposit return scheme is implemented next month.
Under the program, consumers pay a deposit of 15 cents for cans and up to 25 cents for plastic bottles, which is refunded upon return.
IBAL spokesperson Conor Hogan said: “This latest investigation shows these items are present in just under half of the hundreds of sites surveyed.”
“This plan will remove much of this trash and result in a significantly cleaner environment by 2024. There may be some inconvenience for consumers, but the benefits are very real. And it’s something you get right away.”
But Mr Connor insists the next area of focus needs to address the rise in coffee cup waste, which is now nearing peak coronavirus levels.
“Coffee cups were found in more than 30% of over 500 establishments surveyed. We are concerned that the implementation of the coffee cup levy could be delayed. believes this measure is necessary.”
“Regardless of how recyclable or compostable a to-go cup is, these statistics show that too many to-go cups are being thrown away on the streets.”