Tallaght named as cleanest city area
By Aideen O'Flaherty
TALLAGHT was listed as the cleanest area of Dublin in the latest national litter survey by Irish Businesses Against Litter (IBAL) – marking a significant improvement from when the suburb was described as a “litter blackspot” in the same survey in 2010.
Sean Walsh Park and the surrounding areas also received high praise from the people who carried out the survey, with the park being described as “a top-ranking site”, while the areas around Tallaght Village, Tallaght Stadium and the bring banks at The Square and Sean Walsh Park were recorded as being “very clean”.
Aerial view of Tallaght
Tallaght came 13th out of 40 places nationally that were assessed as part of the survey, and was listed as being cleaner than European norms.
This shows a marked improvement on Tallaght’s ranking in IBAL’s October 2018 litter survey, where Tallaght was listed as 24th out of 40 places nationally.
In the October 2018 survey, Sean Walsh Park was described as possessing “a lovely park environment” but this was “let down by the very heavy levels of ‘long-lie’ litter”, stating that “all manner of food, mineral and alcohol related items were to be seen” in a pond at the back of the park, near the council depot.
In the most recent IBAL litter survey, which was released on Monday morning, Sean Walsh Park was commended for being “hugely improved” in relation to the pond where litter was found during the October 2018 survey.
Tallaght was also described as continuing “to shine as a beacon for other urban areas across the country to follow.”
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, said: “Combating litter is part of a much wider challenge – how we use our resources effectively and adapt to recognise environmental damage more generally.
“Litter is a very tangible, visible example of the kind of damage that is being done.
“It is vital that communities, businesses and local authorities in towns all across Ireland work together to manage waste properly and reduce litter.”
Commenting on the survey’s findings, Fianna Fáil councillor for Tallaght Central, Charlie O’Connor, said: “A huge part of this achievement has depended on voluntary work in the community and local residents keeping an eye on graffiti in the area.
“Despite our area being recognised today as Dublin’s cleanest town, we’ve some way to go in order to fully eliminate the problems with litter and graffiti.
“We all have a responsibility to dispose of our waste properly whether it’s a sweet wrapper or household waste.
“Over the course of the next 12 months we can all make a conscious effort to make even greater improvements and raise awareness of the plight that litter can have on an area like ours.”
Representatives from An Taisce monitored the surveyed towns independently and in accordance with international grading standards as part of the IBAL Anti-Litter League.
