Sir, - It is not surprising that Ciaran Hogan (July 28th) is unaware that the Tour de France passed through Ireland's cleanest county. In April, 1997, IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) challenged Co Waterford to become Ireland's first litter-free county. On July 16th last I was present at the award ceremony when the Minister for the Environment, Noel Dempsey TD, Tom Cavanagh, chairman of IBAL, and Patricia Oliver, director of development at An Taisce declared that Co Waterford had achieved litter-free status. The prize for Waterford was a £1 million advance factory.
This milestone event in our fight against litter passed almost without notice in our national media. Waterford city and county had undergone a rigorous litter assessment by An Taisce throughout the challenge period. Our findings, following three litter surveys, together with a comprehensive assessment of the local authority's litter management strategy, concluded that Waterford is indeed an exceptionally "crystal clean county" and that the local authority has implemented a sustainable litter management programme to keep it so. Well done, Waterford. Mr Hogan may recommend this exemplary county to his Finnish friends. - Yours, etc., Anne Wilkinson, An Taisce,
Tailors' Hall,
Back Lane,
Dublin 8.