Cigarette litter is 56% of total, says department survey

Cigarette related litter accounted for 56 per cent of litter in Ireland last year, it has emerged.

A new survey shows that food related litter accounted for 26 per cent, packaging for 13 per cent and paper for 3 per cent of all rubbish.

The data is contained in the 2006 Litter Pollution Monitoring System report published by the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, yesterday.

The report showed a gradual but steady reduction in litter levels across the country.

Of the food related rubbish reported, chewing gum accounted for 25 per cent, the single largest component in this category.

The survey showed that pedestrians were the biggest litter culprits accounting for 34.7 per cent, with passing motorists accounting for 16.1 per cent and retail outlets for 10.7 per cent. Places where people gather were identified as a source for 7.3 per cent of litter.

Mr Gormley announced yesterday that on-the-spot litter fines are to rise from €125 to €150 in September.

Over half, or 54 per cent, of areas surveyed were "slightly littered" with 0.6 per cent "grossly littered".

Mr Gormley said he was determined to see local authorities ramp up their levels of enforcement.

"In the next couple of months I will be meeting with them, and interested parties like Irish Business Against Litter to discuss how we might increase enforcement and better educate people not to litter.

"Let there be no doubt Ireland still has a significant litter problem and there is no room for complacency."

Meanwhile, the Minister said chewing gum manufacturers should contribute more to cleaning gum from streets, and warned unless the situation improved a levy on packets of gum would be considered in the next 18 months.

Mr Gormley said an agreement reached with the industry by the last minister for the environment needed "to be reviewed".

His predecessor, Dick Roche, moved away from a tax on chewing gum after pressure from the industry and instead opted for a voluntary agreement under which the industry contributes on average €2 million a year to promote public awareness on gum littering.

Mr Gormley said the industry needed to contribute more, adding that it should be paying towards the clean-up costs associated with gum.

The agreement expires in 18 months.

Minister of State at the Department of Environment Tony Killeen announced that grants to local authorities to help improve public awareness about litter were being increased by 41 per cent, to €1 million this year.