Limerick still classed as 'littered' and ranks close to last in nationwide survey

“LIMERICK has slipped from its 2024 mid-year result” in terms of litter, an official report finds, as the city ranks close to last in a nationwide survey.

Additionally, a fall in plastic bottles and cans on our streets, brought about by the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), was not enough to reduce overall litter levels across the country last year. 

That is the finding of business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL), whose latest survey of 40 towns and cities shows Limerick City South and City Centre both “littered”, ranking 36th and 37th respectively.

“A minor improvement compared to 2023, but Limerick has slipped from its 2024 mid-year result,” stated the An Taisce report for Limerick City Centre. 

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Some improvements were noted at the laneway between Thomandgate and High Road, the entrances to Charlotte Quay, Cruises St and Henry Street car parks, as well as at Mount Kenneth Place corner of Cecil St and Catherine Street. 

“This time around it just missed the top litter grade,” the report states. 

However, the report also found some positives.

“Site at the corner of Hyde Road and Bus Eireann recorded a great improvement, worthy of the top litter grade while O’Connell Street was very much deserving of the top litter grade and was looking very well following extensive regeneration works. 

“Other examples of top-ranking sites included Honan’s Quay and Harvey’s Quay – lovely riverside environments.”

In contrast, it is reported that the most heavily littered sites (litter blackspots) were the wastegrounds on the corner of Smyth's Lane and Cathedral Place and steps leading to the river at John's Castle – “both had suffered from neglect and dumping,” according to An Taisce.

The An Taisce report for Limerick City South /Galvone stated that “some slippage was noted compared to the IBAL mid-year survey.”

Notable improvements were found at the recycling facility at Roxboro Shopping Centre. 

“While still moderately littered, it was not subject to the same levels of dumping as has been the case over a long number of years.”

The Weigh Station (Childers Road) was another site which was much improved but still requires attention.  

“The residential area of O’Malley Park was heavily littered – it wouldn’t typically have harboured so much litter in previous IBAL surveys.   Galvone Business Park, a litter blackspot, continues to suffer from domestic dumping at one particular location at the rear/end of the facility.”

Sweet wrappers and fast-food wrappers were the most common litter types, ahead of plastic bags and coffee cups, which were present in over 20% of sites.  

Overall litter levels were on par with 12 months ago. In all, 60% of the towns and cities surveyed were deemed ‘clean’. 

On a positive note, 2024 saw a further fall in the number of sites within cities and towns that were deemed ‘litter blackspots’, which suggests that local authorities were generally more effective in tackling urban dumping and in addressing sites that IBAL had previously highlighted. 

The survey also revealed a near 50% fall in the prevalence of plastic bottles and cans in the 500+ sites monitored since DRS was introduced last year. 

“We are definitely seeing cans and bottles disappear from our streets, which is very welcome – not only are they unsightly, but the bottles contribute to the very real problem of plastic pollution,” says Conor Horgan. 

“However, it is clear from our survey that people continue to discard a wide range of litter types with flagrant disregard for their surroundings.

“The need for such measures is evident in the stubbornly low penetration levels of refillable coffee cups and the proliferation of highly damaging vape litter, which cannot be recycled.”

Mr Horgan concluded by saying that it is important the next government “maintain the momentum on anti-litter legislation”.

Set up in 1996, IBAL 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 towns independently and in accordance with international grading standards.