Clontarf, Dalkey/Killiney and Howth are the cleanest areas in Dublin, while Ballymun, Mulhuddart, Clondalkin and the city centre suffer most from litter.
"Dirty Dublin" is a well-earned sobriquet, a new survey shows, with litter levels 12 per cent higher in the capital than the rest of the country.
Over one-third of the areas surveyed by An Taisce for Irish Business Against Litter (Ibal) were found to be "litter blackspots" or "seriously littered".
However, there were some signs of improvement; Swords, which had ranked as a litter blackspot in previous surveys, is now deemed "litter-free", while Finglas has improved from being a blackspot to being "moderately littered".
"Both of these towns have been the butt of criticism for their litter levels in recent times," said Dr Tom Cavanagh of Ibal. "They have responded with a concerted anti-litter effort, which has borne immediate fruit. They are a model for other areas to follow."
Dublin's city centre continues to rank as a litter blackspot, with at least four separate areas where serious problems were found. Graffiti and cigarette butts were an issue in many locations.
Sweet papers, fast-food wrappers, cigarette butts and plastic bottles are the most prominent forms of litter in the capital, the survey found.
Ibal has launched an anti-litter league in which 53 areas nationwide will be surveyed during the year.
Trim is the 8/1 favourite to take the title of cleanest town, ahead of Cavan, Fermoy and Killarney, all at 10/1. Dublin city centre is a 100/1 outsider.
Dr Cavanagh said he hoped the survey would spur local authorities into doing more for the heavily-littered suburbs.
"A cleaner environment would instil a sense of pride in these areas, which, in turn, would foster more community response and increased business activity."
An area-by-area breakdown of the results.
Litter free
Clontarf
Dalkey/Killiney
Howth
Leopardstown/Sandyford Swords
Moderately littered
Blackrock
Dún Laoghaire
Rathfarnham
Donnybrook
Ballyfermot
Blanchardstown
Finglas
Serious litter problem
Drumcondra
Lucan
Malahide
Tallaght
Litter blackspot
City centre
Clondalkin
Mulhuddart
Ballymun
