Nationally, some 33 beaches, harbours, rivers and their immediate environs were monitored by An Taisce on behalf of IBAL in June and July.

Brittas Bay, Curracloe, Bundoran, Killiney, Strandhill, and Tramore were among the popular beaches to achieve clean status, alongside Portmarnock in Dublin

Members of the CBA, local businesses and volunteers came together to refresh the popular city centre streets.

The city centre fell short of clean status again this year, and although it had no litter blackspots, five sites were heavily littered, including William St, Penrose Quay, Kennedy Quay, and Anderson Quay.

Irish Rail said bins in train stations may contain broken glass, dirty nappies and rotten food.

This year, 66 villages entered Cork County Council’s annual Anti-Litter Challenge, which showcases the unwavering commitment and community spirit of voluntary groups across the county.

Generally, the study showed an overall improvement in litter levels, and a decrease in cans and plastic bottles on streets on foot of the Deposit Return Scheme.

The council said that it may soon be able to recommence using CCTV to support waste enforcement activities. 

It follows concerns over an increase in litter at the amenity during spells of warm-weather. 

It comes as a survey shows 34% of people are regularly pouring damaging items down the sink, compared to 50% in 2018.

The council’s pledge comes following reports of continuous issues with dog fouling in the area.

The scheme will add a 15c/25c deposit to the price of items sold in eligible cans or bottles, which can later be reclaimed

Mallow retained its ranking as cleaner than European norms, in second place on the overall list just behind Maynooth, Ireland’s tidiest community.

Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus McGrath said enforcement is playing a major role in addressing the issues of litter and dog fouling.

Vapes and glass bottles, a door and a couch were among the items collected at Cork beaches. 

More than 30 locals attended the inaugural meeting of the newly established Blackpool Tidy Village group recently at Blackpool Community Centre

In 2022, more than 500 clean-up events were organised, with participants removing 42 tonnes of litter from Irish coastal areas and inland locations.

The survey presents a snapshot of cleanliness levels across Ireland as the peak summer tourist season commences, ranking towns from clean to littered.

Just one dog fouling fine was issued by Cork City Council in 2022, and none had been issued up to the end of March this year

South East Area Representative Peter Horgan said it has been clear for some time that the byelaws and system of fines is not fit for purpose

"They are very important. It makes perfect sense.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus McGrath brought forward a motion at the most recent meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District calling for a forum to be established to tackle the issue of dog fouling in the community

A handful of locals came together in recent weeks to create a community tidy towns group and tackle any litter in the Mahon area

Lithium-ion batteries are becoming a common part of the daily litter in the city finding their way into the river and drains. The batteries are part of popular single-use vape products that are not being disposed of correctly.

This year, the focus is on the bathroom and the Think Before You Flush campaign, which is operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann.

Lord Mayor Deirdre Forde said that the IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) survey’s classification of Cork city as littered “does not reflect the hard work and dedication of the City Council’s street sweeping crews who work outside in all weather, 7 days a week from early morning to late in the evening”.

Cork city centre was amongst the three worst areas in the national rankings for litter, with An Taisce reporting the city centre “continues to struggle” with litter, as fewer than half of the sites surveyed were deemed clean.

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Mahon and Cork city centre have been ranked as some of the worst areas in the country for littering, according to a survey of cities and towns nationwide.

The Big Beach Clean is an annual call to action that runs as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), operated internationally by Ocean Conservancy

Cork Harbour at Blackrock Castle was again found to be ‘heavily littered’ at the foot of the rankings of 33 areas surveyed.

Cork County Council has been awarded €100,000 to make Bandon more vibrant and colourful.

Kinsale officially deemed as ‘littered’

Figures obtained by The Echo, show that, as of the end of June, the local authority has issued one fine to a person who failed to pick up after a dog in their care

Fingal County Council has pleaded with people to take their litter home from the beach with them as images of Burrow Beach went viral on Twitter

Local councillor Audrey Buckley took to social media to plead with the public to stop using the bins for household waste, fearing the removal of the bins by the council.

Clean Coasts was joined by several members of the local community, including Clonakilty Tidy Towns, Men’s Shed, and local Clean Coasts groups.

This year is the second year of the campaign which sees signs featuring unique ‘Corkisms’ erected at outdoor amenities including beaches, coastlines, parks, playgrounds and shared recreational areas. 

As part of the IBAL Anti-Litter League, An Taisce monitored 40 towns and cities in accordance with international grading standards

Cork City Council said they have not received negative feedback although there has been very small amounts of litter, mainly coffee cups.

County Mayor Gillian Coughlan said the persistent nature of dog fouling is an issue that needs to be tackled

Of 40 Irish towns and cities surveyed, Mahon ranked 31st, and Cork City centre ranked 32nd. Cork’s northside came in at 37th.

Cork's northside ranks 37th out of 40 towns and cities surveyed

The first post-lockdown survey by Irish Business Against Litter shows Cork City Centre has dropped to ‘littered’, alongside Mahon and Cork Northside.  Fermoy again was ‘Clean’ and in seventh position in the ranking of 40 areas nationwide.

THE number of litter fines issued in the first six months of this year has soared compared with last year.

THE Cork harbour area near Blackrock Castle and White Bay Beach have been highlighted among the most heavily littered marine areas in a nationwide survey.

“A LITTLE respect” is being called for by a Tidy Towns committee who are putting in long hours cleaning up after beachgoers, locals, and visitors to the area.

CALLS have been made for Cork City Council to install CCTV as part of measures to protect its landbanks on Churchfield Rd and Kilmore Rd Lower from ongoing litter dumping.

Just six fines for dog-fouling offences were issued across Cork between January 2020 and the end of May 2021, The Echo can reveal.

A COMMUNITY group on a mission to tidy up Cork's coastline is taking care of waste dating back as far as the fifties and sixties.