Cigarette litter made up almost half the rubbish recorded around the country in 2004, according to the results of the National Litter Report published yesterday.
The third annual report of the Litter Monitoring Body (LMB), released by the Department of the Environment, revealed that 48 per cent of the litter found in the survey was cigarette-related, such as butts, cigarette papers and boxes. This was a substantial increase on previous years. It was found at gathering points outside bars and restaurants and, according to the report, the increase was most likely a result of the ban on smoking in the workplace.
Chewing gum was the second-largest culprit nationally, at 29 per cent, and made up the single largest component of food-related litter. Packaging was the third-largest element of national litter pollution.
Other components of litter included paper such as bank slips and bus tickets; deleterious or harmful litter like dog fouling, nappies and syringes; other food-related litter; and bulky litter such as household appliances and furniture.
The main cause of litter was found to be pedestrians, accounting for 36.5 per cent of the factors measured. Retail outlets, passing motorists and gathering points all played their part in causing litter and were responsible for around 12 per cent each. Other factors included fast-food outlets, ATMs and school children. Contrary to popular belief, fly tipping was responsible for only 1 per cent of litter.
The report, compiled by TES Consulting Engineers, also looked at the extent of litter around the country using a litter pollution index.
It showed an increase in litter-free areas compared to 2003, up from 4.4 per cent to 5.1 per cent. Almost half of the areas studied were rated only slightly polluted, a decrease on 2003. But those rated moderately polluted increased by 2.1 per cent, to 37.3 per cent. There has been an increase in significantly polluted areas, and a small decrease in grossly polluted areas to 1.8 per cent.
The national litter pollution monitoring system measures three indicators of litter: the extent, the main causes and the main constituents. It is biased towards measuring the nature and extent of litter pollution in areas most likely to be littered.
It aims to compile data to allow each local authority measure changes in litter pollution in its area and provide for more effective litter management planning.
Local authorities identify potential sources of litter in their areas, choose the areas to be included in the survey and then compile the information about each area. Not all local authorities carried out their surveys for this year's report, with results gathered from over one-third.
The LMB collates the survey and presents the results. This year's report was launched by Minister of State at the Department of the Environment Batt O'Keeffe. He said the system provides crucial statistical data about litter pollution in Ireland.
