Minister Hogan announces the publication of the 2013 National Litter Report

Statistical data about the extent, causes and composition of litter in Ireland.

Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, announced (30 June, 2014) the publication of the 2013 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System Report. The System Report provides important statistical data about the extent, causes and composition of litter in Ireland.

In announcing the publication of the 2013 Report, Minister Hogan wished to acknowledge the role being played by local authorities and communities in tackling Irelands litter problem. Local authorities, working in conjunction with the communities they serve, continue to make progress in the on-going battle against litter pollution across the country. The 2013 Report shows that the number of areas surveyed across the country deemed to be completely unpolluted stands at 12.2%, the highest level achieved since monitoring began. The results also demonstrate that 75.0% of all areas surveyed in 2013 were deemed to be either litter free or only slightly polluted.

Areas, which in the past suffered greatest from litter pollution, i.e. moderately, significantly and grossly polluted areas, have improved with an overall combined cumulative decrease of 1.5% in these statistics when compared with the 2012 results. Whilst these results are very encouraging it must be understood that there is no room for complacency in the fight against litter, we need to focus our efforts to maintain the improving standards being achieved across the country.

The Minister added that while local authorities and community groups make remarkable efforts in keeping our country clean, every individual must be aware that, ultimately, its up to their own actions to ensure that we live in a litter free environment.

In summary the 2013 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System Report reveals that -

• There has been an increase in the number of areas surveyed deemed to be litter free from 10.4% in 2012 to 12.2% in 2013, the highest level ever achieved;
   
• 62.8% of all areas surveyed were slightly littered, a decrease of 0.4% on 2012 levels;
   
• The percentage of areas deemed to be moderately polluted fell by 1.9% to 21% when compare to 2012 results for the same category;
   
• The percentages of significantly polluted and grossly polluted areas remain almost constant with changes in each case at less than 0.5%;
   
• Cigarette related litter (54.1%), food related litter (16.3%), packaging litter (12.2%), sweet related litter (7.7%) and paper items (6.9%) were identified as the main constituents of litter nationally;
   
• Passing pedestrians (39.6%), passing motorists (19.7%), retail outlets (10.0%), gathering points (6.6%), places of leisure and entertainment (5.9%) and fast food outlets (5.3%) were identified as the main causative factors of litter nationally.

The Minister urges citizens to take responsibility for their own behaviour and smokers in particular, in light of the results announced today, to take responsibility for their own litter and to make every effort to dispose of it correctly at all times.

A more detailed analysis of the System Report data is attached at  Appendix 1, together with a Note to Editors which explains key elements of the system.

Source: Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government