Dundalk: 29th out of 40 towns / cities surveyed. Clean to European Norms.
Dundalk’s ranking is buoyed by its earlier result in 2014. Less than half of the sites surveyed getting the top litter grade it puts Dundalk towards the bottom half of the 2014 IBAL Anti-Litter League. Some of the better sites included Dundalk Grammar School, the ‘managed’ Recycle Facility and Dundalk Institute of Technology. Clanbrassil Street was seriously littered as was the connecting road between Dundalk and Drogheda.
Approach from the North: Grade A. This was a very good route with attractive red paving for the pedestrian and cycle paths. The grass was neat and shrubbery / trees were in good order.
Dundalk Grammar School: Grade A. A very well presented and maintained educational environment – well done to all involved in same.
Dundalk Recycling: Grade A. This is a ‘managed’ facility where you drive through a barrier. The entrance was in excellent order – red brick paving, abundant flower boxes, grass and road markings / signage were very good. There was a complete absence of litter in the area surveyed.
Dundalk Institute of Technology: Grade A. Dundalk Institute of Technology is very much living up to the ethos of the Green Flag – it was spotless throughout. As well as a lack of litter the overall presentation of buildings / greenery / signage etc. was excellent.
Castleblaney Approach Road: Grade B. There was a variety of litter at this site, much of it food related e.g. sweet papers, plastic bottles, fast-food wrappers and cans. As well as these items cigarette packs and butts were also very much in evidence.
Dunnes Stores Car Park: Grade B. There was litter within the car park proper and the surrounding pedestrian pathways. Chewing gum and cigarette butts were most prevalent with lower levels of fast-food wrappers and plastic bottles.
Clanbrassil Street: Grade C. This street is very well served by litter bins and has had a relatively recent lift in terms of presentation of the square and courthouse so it is a real shame to see it score so poorly – as well as being heavily littered the seating looked very worn and the paving was uneven and dangerous.
Oriel Park: Grade B. A more thorough approach to cleaning could make a big difference to this site – all litter appeared to be ‘new’ i.e. not a long-term build up – a variety of food related litter was present at the main entrance and environs.
Dundalk Train Station: Grade B. This site just missed getting the top litter grade – with a little extra care on behalf of the users of the station this could easily be achieved.
Link road between Dundalk and Drogheda – South Bound: Grade C. All of this route was within County Louth so the results are for the one county. Surveyor noted that there was persistent litter along the left hand side of the road in the ditches and grass. The result of recent grass cutting was ‘chopped up litter’. As well as the usual types of litter there was plenty of plastic.
Editors note:
Set up in 1996, Irish Business Against Litter is an alliance of companies sharing a belief that continued economic prosperity – notably in the areas of tourism, food and direct foreign investment – is contingent on a clean, litter-free environment.
As part of the IBAL Anti-Litter League, An Taisce monitors towns independently and in accordance with international grading standards. The programme is run in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Visit www.ibal.ie for further information.