The Green Party are calling for the old system of refunding the public for their disused bottles and cans to be revived after a report today identified widespread littering of rural roads.
The Trinity College study showed that 3,500 pieces of litter were dropped each year on a typical one-kilometre stretch of rural Irish road. Drink bottles accounted for 15 per cent of the litter while cans accounted for around 6 per cent.
Some 56 per cent of all litter was plastic, while paper and cardboard accounted for a quarter.
The study, carried out by Prof Nick Gray, an environmental scientist at TCD, and research assistant Ms Rebecca Gray, recommended the introduction of depositories for drink cans and bottles.
Green Party tourism spokesperson Mr Paul Gogarty said the reintroduction of money-back bottles and a new refundable charge on cans works well in other countries and should be introduced in Ireland.
"The majority of law abiding citizens of this country are frustrated with our chronic litter problem. They are tired of having to wade through cans and broken bottles when out and about.
"Tourists have remarked that Ireland is a dirty country, despite our wonderful natural assets. But in the face of growing global competition for tourism income and rising prices, we need every advantage we can get," Mr Gogarty said.
The research said that, on average, there were 1,148 pieces of litter per kilometre at any one time on a one-kilometre stretch of rural road, estimating up to 80 per cent of which was thrown form cars.