The latest Irish Business Against Litter rankings show that Carlow has improved but Kilkenny’s slipped down the list.
40 cities and towns have been surveyed with Sligo in the top spot while Waterford’s been named Cleanest City.
Carlow came in 25th and was deemed Clean to European Norms with the An Taisce report stating; “This is a positive result for Carlow, with 6 top ranking sites. It was most encouraging to see such an improvement at Mr Price – it had been highlighted in many previous IBAL surveys as heavily littered – this time around it was very much deserving of the top litter grade. The Riverwalk and SETU Car Park were very well presented and maintained – with minimal litter issues. By far the most heavily littered site in Carlow was a site off Dublin Street – it wasn’t just littered but subject to dumping – this needs attention to prevent deterioration.”
Kilkenny’s five places behind in the ten bottom ranked, now Moderately Littered with the poll organisers saying; “It is disappointing to see Kilkenny slip from its customary clean stats. A few sites just missed the top litter grade – this could easily be achieved with a little extra care and attention e.g. The Parade and High Street. The Riverwalk was very much deserving of the top litter grade, as was the Aldi Bottle Bank – the latter is particularly well presented, preventing the ‘stuffing’ of items which so frequently occur at similar facilities throughout the country. The presence of one dumped upon site (Collier’s Lane) and another heavily littered one (Bateman Quay) has very much brought down Kilkenny’s overall ranking this time around. Collier’s Lane wasn’t just casually littered but had been subjected to dumping.”
See the An Taisce reports for individual areas in each county below.
No area across the country fell into the ‘seriously littered’ or ‘litter blackspot’ categories.
KILKENNY
- Waterford Approach Road: Grade B. Road / bicycle surfaces were in good order along this route.
Some parts were clear of litter but there was a food related presence, along with cigarette butts and
plastic ties. - Aldi Bottle Bank: Grade A. The design of this small facility was such that the recycle units were flush
against the back and side walls, precluding any opportunity for the ‘stuffing’ of items which so frequently
happens at Bring Centres. Signage associated with the use of same was in good order and bin units
were freshly presented. - Bateman Quay: Grade C. This site presented poorly. As well as loose litter along the grass, there
were some rubbish bags and other items withing the base of planted areas.
Riverwalk: Grade A. The ‘gathering’ area at the bridge has been beautifully laid out with lovely paving
/ seating / planting / sculpture and solid litter bins. The overall impression was a very good one with
regards to litter. - Carnegie Library Car Park: Grade A. All was in good order at this car park with no obvious litter
accumulations. The bottle bank within was good with regards to litter.
Collier’s Lane: Grade D. This residential area wasn’t just littered but had been dumped upon. Items
were primarily large e.g. bags of rubbish / furniture / bags of rubbish / cardboard boxes etc. with an
obvious graffiti presence. Is this area subject to the same cleaning regime as the rest of the town. - High Street: Grade B. The overall presentation of High Street was very good with lovely paving and
attractively painted premises. Bollards and litter bins were freshly presented. Main litter items were
food related, along with cigarette butts, dog fouling and plastic ties. This could be a top-ranking site,
with a little extra care and attention. - The Parade: Grade B+. ‘The Parade’ is beautifully laid out with all elements in very good order. The
paving looked great, fresh looking. There were plenty of bins throughout. Seating / planted areas are
lovely features. Casually discarded litter took away from an otherwise lovely environment. - Hebron Road Approach: Grade A. A well kept and tidy approach with a well-attended impression
particularly around the outside of Nowlan Park and St. Kieran’s cemetery. - Lidl: Grade A. A very freshly presented environment, with some nice planting. All elements were in
good order. There was a virtual absence of litter throughout.
CARLOW
- Dublin Street: Grade B. Street was enhanced with abundant hanging baskets on attractive poles,
along with brightly coloured ‘spheres’ hanging between the two sides of the street. Low-lying planting
appears to be a relatively recent and welcome addition. Main litter items were cigarette butts, along
with sweet papers, coffee cups and chewing gum. Clearly a careful eye is kept on the various vacant /
derelict sites as there was no litter directly associated with them. - Misc. site off Dublin Street: Grade C. This site wasn’t just littered but subject to dumping – items
included builders’ rubble and a variety of other miscellaneous litter. Overall impression was very poor,
along with unkept vegetation. Where does responsibility for this site lie? - Kilkenny Approach Road: Grade B. This route was generally good with regards to litter but there
were too many items for the top litter grade – particularly opposite the petrol station. Cigarette butts,
vapes, coffee cups and other food related litter were all visible. - Mr Price: Grade A. This site had been highlighted in many previous IBAL surveys as heavily littered –
this time around it was very much deserving of the top litter grade. The car park and footpaths were in
good condition. Hopefully this new success can be sustained. - Oakley Park: Grade A. The residential area of Oakley Park was very much deserving of the top litter
grade – there was a virtual absence of litter throughout. There was no dumping in corner / cul de sac
areas. The large expanse of grass / planted areas looked well.
Riverwalk: Grade A. An attractively presented riverside environment with lovely paving / railings and
seating areas. Bin was located between two seats – seems sensible and to be having the desired
effect. There were minimal litter issues throughout. - SETU Car Park: Grade A. A very freshly presented environment, with built features in very good order.
Elements within were in good order e.g. car park surface / markings / signage and freshly presented
planting. The overall impression created here was a positive one and it was very good with regards to
litter. - Town Hall / Town Square & Environs: Grade A. This is an attractively presented town centre
environment with nice paving, sculpture and planted areas etc. There was a virtual absence of litter
throughout. - Carlow Train Station: Grade A. There were minimal litter issues at this freshly presented train station
environment. Litter bins were in very good order – clean and brightly painted.
Bring Facility, Town Hall Car Park: Grade B. The bin units and the signage associated with the use
of same were very freshly presented. There was a gap between the rear of the recycle units and the
railings to the rear – some items / litter had gathered here – cardboard boxes and other food related
litter items.
