Lord Mayor's Statement on the latest IBAL Report

Litter

10/01/2023

The classification of Cork City as littered does not reflect the hard work and dedication of the City Council’s street sweeping crews who work outside in all weather 7 days a week from early morning to late in the evening.  It is also important to say that the IBAL survey is a snapshot of particular selected areas of the City based on two surveys a year. 

 

Last year, Cork City Council carried out a large number of anti-littering initiatives including:

 

  • free skips to help residents with bulky goods disposal
  • free mattress collections 
  • free hazardous waste collection.  

 

Last summer, Cork City Council also installed over 50 solar compactor bins in the City Centre at a cost of approximately €250,000.   

 

Despite our efforts and that of the many community groups who take great pride in their community by organising regular clean-ups,  a number of areas remain which continue to be problematic in terms of litter and dumping, such as some parts of Mahon. 

 

This is despite significant resources and engagement with communities to tackle littering, dog fouling and illegal dumping in the area. Cork City Council, with support from the Department, carried out a major clean-up operation towards last year in the Ringmahon area at a cost in excess of €50,000.

 

Cork City Council has a continuing role in the upkeep of the public realm however, we cannot solve the problem of littering on our own. Tackling the issue must be done in conjunction and partnership with all residents and stakeholders. An element of personal responsibility must be brought to bear to resolve the scourge of littering and illegal dumping. 

 

It is also worth noting that the IBAL scoring of the City Centre consisted of 10 Grade A, 6 Grade B, 5 Grade C and 4 Grade D, We also note that a number of the areas ranked are not located in Cork City Centre, such as the Dunkettle Interchange (which is a major construction site), Kinsale Road Roundabout, the N20 Commons Road and the North Ring Road.