Litter conviction rate less than 50%

LESS than half of litter prosecutions taken in the first six months of last year ended in conviction, new figures have revealed.

Of the 1,044 prosecutions taken, only 393 resulted in conviction, according to the Department of the Environment. The latest figures also show just 5,730 of the 11,558 on-the-spot fines were actually paid.

The penalty for each fine is €125 and, if the case goes to court, a maximum fine of €1,904 can be imposed.

Local authorities now employ a total of 433 full and part-time wardens but recent statistics show only half of the on-the-spot fines are paid and the conviction rate remains extremely low.

The figures were released on the launch of An Taisce’s National Spring Clean - Ireland’s biggest anti-litter initiative. Next month a record 300,000 people are expected to turn out armed with buckets, bags, brushes and shovels to clean up their local environment.

Last year 262,000 people were involved in 3,150 clean up events nation-wide, collecting a massive 717 tonnes of litter, of which 23% was recycled.

The campaign is designed to heighten awareness of litter and waste issues and promote the notion of personal responsibility for litter.

National Spring Clean manager, Lisa Fitzgerald, said they wanted to get as many people as possible out cleaning up their area.

The organisers are also making a special appeal to adults to follow the example of children who are delighted to get mucky for a good cause.

The campaign attracts volunteers from residents associations, Tidy Towns’ groups, schools, community groups, youth groups, environmental and voluntary organisations and individuals.

Ms Fitzgerald said they would be emphasising the importance of recycling in this year’s campaign.

She pointed out that the clean-up kit issued to participants will contain different colour coded bags so that waste can be separated according to type.

“We’re not a dirty lot but we must take responsibility for our own litter,” she said.

The annual clean up event was launched by the department because it offered the best opportunity in years to finally get to grips with the country’s scandalous litter problem.

The campaign was modelled on a successful initiative running in Britain since 1991. Registration forms for National Spring Clean 2005 are available for local authorities; by calling the National Spring Clean number 01 7077066 or by visiting the campaign website at www.nationalspringclean.org