A litter survey names and shames the towns in Ireland with the worst records on litter.
Navan in County Meath has been named as the worst litter blackspot in the country and Carlow has been named the cleanest town.
Call it what you like - litter, rubbish, dirt or filth, it appears that a lot of Irish people throw it on the ground and then walk away.
The Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey found that industrial estates were three times more likely to be litter blackspots than towns which may have an impact on investment. Fourteen towns were designated as litter blackspots Youghal, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Cobh, Lucan, Ballinasloe, Athlone, Newbridge, Nenagh, Tullamore, Finglas, Gorey, Mayfield and Navan.
The cities of Cork and Dublin have made significant improvements on previous surveys. Twelve towns have been designated as litter free Carlow, Dundalk, Cavan, Longford, Waterford, Bray, Mullingar, Dungarvan, Trim, Fermoy, Naas and Enniscorthy.
Chairman of IBAL, Dr Tom Cavanagh, says that littering in industrial estates is a serious problem which has a simple solution, to fine the owners of the estates.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 May 2005. The reporter is Paul Cunningham.
