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 the majority people want to live in. Those who are in the disgusting habit of dropping litter are behaving in a most anti-social manner.

So why do we continue to drop our litter on the street, in our parks, on our roadsides, and from our cars and vans? 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" or as IBAL Irish Business Against Litter define it “Clean to European Norms” if the town or area achieves a consistent 85% cleanliness rating in the 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.

However the time for education and gentle persuasion is long past, the only deterrent which works for those who Litter is for the local Authority to issue the offender with a SUBSTANTIAL FINE .

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 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 Green Schools are testament to this, these 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.

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.