Amount of plastic in 2024 election posters same as in 1.3 million takeaway coffee cups

'The carbon impact was considered to equate to a full commercial plane making two return flights from Dublin to New York'

Some election posters in Cork City in 2024. A new report from An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s Electoral Commission, has recommended reducing the size of election posters, enforcing existing postering laws, and communicating with political stakeholders about public safety. File picture: Eddie O'Hare

The number of election posters used in the 2024 general election used the same amount of plastic as 1.3 million coffee cups and had the same carbon impact as return flights from Dublin to New York.

A new report from An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s Electoral Commission, has recommended reducing the size of election posters, enforcing existing postering laws, and communicating with political stakeholders about public safety.