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Litter Action Plan

The Litter Action Plan was launched as the national anti-litter strategy in February 2001.   The Plan is based on extensive consultation with the public and private sectors and places emphasis on broadly based local partnerships with local authorities taking the lead role as the basis for combating litter.

Key actions addressed to local authorities in the Plan include:

  • Emphasis on the need for broadly based local partnership (i.e. a multi-sectoral) approach to tackling the litter problem
  • Increasing enforcement action, including the employment of more litter wardens
  • Greater training for, and greater flexibility in, the litter warden service, including greater targeting of resources at the most serious litter problems
  • Reviewing general clean-up services
  • Taking new/innovative anti-litter action, especially in areas of awareness and education and the operation of a “best practice” web-site
  • Increased financial penalties for litter offences
  • Implementation of the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System

General anti-litter actions in the Litter Action Plan include:

  • Public authorities (i.e. all Departments, state and semi-state bodies etc.) developing anti-litter action plans for their own organisations
  • Maintaining and increasing Exchequer funding for anti-litter action in the coming years
  • Earmarking a significant proportion of revenue from the planned levies on plastic bags and landfill levies for anti-litter action
  • National anti-litter advertising as part of the National Environmental Awareness Campaign
  • Co-funding An Taisce led project National Spring Clean for the coming years
  • Approaching particular sectors associated with litter polluting products (chewing gum, takeaway foods, drinks containers) to give clear commitments to anti-litter action
  • Exploring potential for Gardai/ Courts system to better support local authority anti-litter action
  • Greater promotion of litter education/awareness in schools

Key actions continuing or implemented under the Litter Action Plan:

  • Developing and implementing the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System and publicising system results
  • Co-financing the An Taisce led National Spring Clean initiative
  • Implementing a local authority anti-litter awareness grant scheme
  • Co-financing the Irish Business Against Litter Campaign (IBAL) National Litter League
  • Maintaining a best practice website to encourage new/innovative anti-litter action (http://www.litter.ie/)
  • Increased on-the-spot and court fines for offences under the Litter Pollution Acts
  • Prohibition of advertising by means of placing items on vehicles
  • Arranging for national anti-litter advertising campaigns
  • Introducing a plastic bag levy
  • Securing a negotiated agreement with the Chewing Gum Industry
  • Securing a negotiated agreement with the Banking Industry
  • Working with local authorities to improve training for the litter warden service
  • Negotiating with the fast-food sector to tackle the problem of litter caused by fast-food packaging