Pedestrians chief culprits as littering on the rise

CIGARETTE butts, chewing gum and packaging are the main types of litter strewn around the country while pedestrians are most to blame for causing it, according to the latest figures from Government.

The National Litter Pollution Monitoring System, operated by the Department of the Environment, publishes its 2009 report today, and shows while there were reductions in areas with the worst pollution, there were increases in other areas.

It comes as the Government plans to set up a task force aimed at tackling litter in the countryside and along roadsides.