No dumping - IBAL report

Given the welcome influx of more tourists to Ireland, it is encouraging that our cities are getting cleaner. As today’s report from Irish Businesses Against Litter (IBAL) will show, 13 major urban areas are now better than the European average. 

That is indeed good news.

While IBAL has achieved much, local people can readily attest that some offenders are deliberately dumping rubbish. Showing absolutely no respect for the environment, it makes no difference to them whether they dump a black plastic bagful of debris, a matrass or a couch in a beauty spot, on the beach, in a stream, over the ditch into some farmer’s field, up a narrow lane or on the motorway.

If a tourist strayed from the centre of some urban areas, the cityscape can change dramatically. Some outlying areas are akin to polluted sites of third world countries. If the council charged with keeping public areas clean has slapdash policies, it reinforces the irresponsible attitude of those who care not a whit for the environment. Much done — but a lot more to do. Enforcement is the answer.