Press release
2019 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System Report published
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
The National Litter Pollution Monitoring System Report 2019 has shown an increase in litter pollution from 2018 to 2019:
Speaking today on the report’s findings, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD said:
"With packaging and food-related litter accounting for over a quarter of our litter pollution, it is more important than ever that the actions proposed under the recently-announced Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy are implemented. Apart from merely managing the waste we produce, we need to reduce the amount of waste we are generating in the first place. That is why we have committed to halving our food waste by 2030, introducing a deposit and return scheme for plastic bottles and cans, banning certain single use plastics from July 2021, and putting a levy on disposable cups. We will apply a waste recovery levy to encourage recycling, and ensure all packaging is reusable or recyclable by 2030.
"With passing motorists and pedestrians responsible for 64% of litter pollution between them, we need to reflect on our personal responsibilities, especially now in the midst of a global pandemic. Anecdotally, discarding single-use masks has added to our litter problems in recent months and I would appeal to everyone to dispose of their single-use masks, in a closed bin and in accordance with HSE guidance, or use a reusable face mask. I congratulate the collective efforts of Local Authorities, Community Groups, Tidy Towns committees and volunteers who are vital to addressing our litter issue."
Under the national monitoring system, the extent and severity of litter pollution is measured by using a Litter Pollution Index (LPI), which is a scale of 1 to 5:
1 Unpolluted or litter free
2 Slightly polluted
3 Moderately polluted
4 Significantly polluted
5 Grossly polluted
The findings in the Report emphasise the need for projects such as the Anti Litter Anti Graffiti Scheme which can help with both raising the awareness of the issue of litter locally and of coming up with local solutions to local problems. €744,739 has been provided to Local Authorities to conduct public awareness and education initiatives at a local level in respect of both litter and graffiti. Each local authority can select suitable anti-litter awareness projects to support and decide on the grant allocations in their area. The chosen projects/activities should seek to promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter, including dog fouling, and graffiti.
The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) supports a number of environmental awareness-raising programmes, including the Green Schools Programme, which is aimed at educating young people. We also support, through sponsorship, the work of local groups through the An Taisce’s National Spring Clean. The achievement of our targets under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production - is something in which each and every one of us can play an active part.
ENDS
The National Litter Pollution Monitoring System is an environmental management tool that enables local authorities to tackle litter more effectively, by providing a framework for consistent and accurate self-assessment. The data produced by the national system surveys allow local authorities to gauge:
The full report is available online.