Effects of bag tax to be gauged

An indication of the success or otherwise of the tax on plastic bags in reducing litter is expected in a major survey to be undertaken over the next two weeks.

Volunteers are being sought by Coastwatch Ireland to help carry out the inspection of the country's coastline. Surveyors will be issued with test kits and questionnaires to record details under headings including litter, water quality and wetlands.

The study is part of the annual Coastwatch survey taking part around Europe this autumn. The survey in Ireland will be the first since the 15 cent tax on plastic bags was introduced in March by the then minister for the environment, Mr Dempsey.

Coastwatch, which had campaigned for the tax for a number of years, says the survey will allow it to compare the number of plastic bags on shore with previous years. Plastic bags also resemble jellyfish in water and can cause turtle death, the organisation says.

Coastwatch has also pushed, without success, for the introduction of a deposit on drinks containers. The number of plastic bottles found on the shore will be a key feature of the litter survey.

Volunteers will also be asked to take water samples flowing into estuaries and bays from small streams and pipes, which will be tested for nitrate and phosphate levels. It is hoped to get results for 1,000 inflows, making it the largest volunteer water-sampling effort undertaken in Ireland.

Anyone who can walk at least 500 metres of shore is invited to help carry, but those with good local knowledge and who can take on stretches of 5 km would be particularly welcome, the organisation says. The study will be carried out up to October 14th.

Information can be obtained from Coastwatch's head office, at 055-25843 or from www.coastwatcheurope.org