Navan 'moderately littered' according to survey

Navan has improved its ranking in the Irish Business Against Litter League, moving up from 29th place to 26th in the rankings of 40 towns and cities.

Navan, which was deemed 'moderately littered' by IBAL in this round of judging moved up from 29th in the last round of judging.

Naas, Portlaoise and Ennis were the top three towns respectively, with all three been deemed cleaner than European norms.

Dublun's North Inner City was in 40th position and was dubbed a 'litter blackspot.'

Drogheda was 39 and deemed 'heavily littered' while Cavan was 17th and dubbedclean to European norms.'

The survey shows that PPE litter nationally is at its highest levels since the Pandemic started, while IBAL says Councils are failing to address rising number of "heavily littered sites."

PPE litter at record levels, with an increase in the presence of both masks and gloves. “It would appear that this litter is accumulating as the pandemic continues, as there remains an understandable reticence to pick up other people’s PPE,” says IBAL’s Conor Horgan.

“The disposable blue face mask has become a ubiquitous part of the landscape up and down the country. People have not moved to reusable masks and people are not taking care of their masks.”

International research* has found PPE litter accounting for as much as five per cent of all litter, and likely to have “a devastating, lasting effect on the environment”. Mask use is forecast to remain high into 2022.