To report a littering offence Free Phone the Litter Warden at 1800 243 143



Litter pollution is a major threat to the quality of our local environment. It is very visible and is an objectionable affront to the kind of environment people want to live in. So why do we continue to drop our litter on the street, in our parks, is it not about time we all make a commitment to eliminate litter from our environment - you wouldn't drop your cigarette butt or chewing gum in your living room - why drop it on the street.

Any area or town would be considered "Litter Free" if they achieved a consistent 85% cleanliness rating in the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) / An Taisce litter survey. How does your area rate?

Litter pollution is a problem for society at large, and a partnership approach is considered the most effective method of tackling the problem. The task of eliminating litter cannot be left to the council alone, the business / industrial sector, community groups, clubs, schools and the residents of Newbridge also have a major role to play.

Definition of Litter
It is said that Litter is "Waste in the Wrong Place"

Officially litter is defined as Cigarette Butts, Sweet Papers, Chewing Gum, Bottles & Cans, Plastic Bags & Wrapping, Dog Fouling, Fast Food Wrappers, ATM Receipts, Bus & Train Tickets, Fly – posting, Unattended Grass Areas, Unattended Weeds, Overflowing Litter Bins, Graffiti.

Those manufacturers who package their produce in litter producing products, and vendors of these products must take some responsibility for where their products end up – however those of us who discard items in a manner which causes litter are primarily responsible, and they should be punished by the full force of the law.

The Schools in Newbridge are undoubtedly some of the more proactive groups in relation to litter prevention. They have consistently been praised by the IBAL adjudicators simply because they work to prevent litter, and where it occurs they get out and remove it. The four Green Schools are testament to this, and many of the remaining schools are actively working to achieve the Green Flag. The Schools - both Children and Staff are leading by example - now the remainder of us must "catch on" and actively work to prevent litter and eliminate it from our environment.

How can you help?
Do not drop litter, if you have something to throw away, put it in a bin or take it home and dispose of it there.

Could you give an hour a month to your residents association and help keep your estate or street free of litter?

Keep the road frontage outside your house clean and weed free.

If you own / run a business, encourage your customers to use litter bins, and working with your traders association or neighbouring businesses set up a rota to keep the street frontage cleanly swept and free of litter.

Clubs & societies could encourage their members to be conscious of the litter problem – could you set up a project to tackle litter in your area?

If you see someone attempting to place their domestic waste into a street litter bin - phone the Litter Warden - this is also an illegal act.

Any Group or Individual can adopt or "take ownership" of a roadside, a section of your residential area. Take the recently launched "Green Ribbon" initiative which encourages individuals or groups to organise a Litter Patrol in their locality and keep that area free from litter. Such groups are encouraged to display green ribbons in these areas, both to highlight that the area is the subject of a Litter Patrol, and to promote awareness of the Green Ribbon concept. You can register your Litter patrol on the Green Ribbon Website: www.greenribbon.ie

Remember YOU can Phone the Litter Warden at FREE PHONE 1800 243 143

YOU are PAYING for cleaning up other peoples litter, it's your taxes and rates that pay for this necessary cleaning service. The money spent by Kildare County Council last year cleaning Litter in Newbridge would have gone a long way towards providing another Children's Playgrounds similar to the brilliant playground on the Station Road. Kildare County Council estimate that on average twelve tonnes of litter is removed from the streets of Newbridge weekly . Cleaning Litter is litterly pouring money down the drain, but the cleaning must continue because some of us continue to throw that butt, that sweet paper or their domestic rubbish onto the public streets.