The workplace smoking ban has increased by about 20 per cent the volume of cigarette butts on the streets of one north Co Dublin town, according to a new litter survey.
Calling for the mandatory introduction of butt bins outside pubs, restaurants and other premises, Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) said the rise in cigarette-butt littering in Swords had contributed to a "serious litter problem" .
While it was too early to gauge the full impact of the smoking ban, the group said: "From first indications it appears that where butt disposal bins are present they are being used. Where not, as in the case with many pubs, cafes and takeaways, lots of litter is the norm. Local authorities need to step up enforcement to prevent these areas becoming magnets for litter."
Swords was one of 30 towns surveyed by the heritage group An Taisce for the latest IBAL anti-litter league published today. Most were surveyed before the introduction of the smoking ban. Tullamore was ranked the dirtiest town in the Republic, followed by Sligo, Castlebar, Tallaght, Galway and Dundalk. All six were categorised "litter blackspots".
Only eight towns - Fermoy, Cavan, Monaghan, Dún Laoghaire, Letterkenny, Wexford, Athlone and Kilkenny - were found to be "clean to European norms". IBAL chairman Mr Tom Cavanagh said: "It's a case of the good getting better and the bad getting worse".
