Over 30 events in Laois to mark National Spring Clean

There are over 30 clean-ups registered in County Laois to celebrate the 25th year of National Spring Clean. 

Tuesday, April 2 marks the official launch of Ireland’s largest anti-litter campaign.

As it gets underway An Taisce is calling on communities in County Laois to come together and tackle Ireland’s litter problem to protect biodiversity and help fight climate change.

Registrations will remain open throughout the month of April for those still interested in participating in the campaign.

This year marks 25 years of the campaign, which has seen the removal of an estimated 47,500 tonnes of litter from Irish streets, parks, coastlines, thanks to over 12 million volunteer hours.

A key focus of this year’s campaign will be highlighting the impact that a circular economy model can have on reducing waste and reducing our climate impact. Last year alone, 35% of all waste collected during the National Spring Clean was recycled, thanks to recyclable waste bags provided to registered groups and individuals.

Minister of State at the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth TD, said: “It is always fantastic to see the strong community spirit and ambition to make a positive contribution to the local environment, from the volunteers who participate in An Taisce’s National Spring Clean. The success of the campaign over the past 25 years has been remarkable, and I am optimistic that this year  that  will see people  out in record numbers helping to make a positive impact in their local communities.”

National Spring Clean Manager, Emlyn Cullen, commented:  “This is an important year for An Taisce as we celebrate 25 years of the National Spring Clean. We’re proud to say that over the past 25 years, almost 47,500 tonnes of litter has been collected, thanks to the enormous effort of our dedicated volunteers. As we mark our 25th anniversary, we hope this year will be our biggest yet. So far, the numbers of volunteers already registered is huge but there’s still time for people to register online and get involved this year.”
 

An Taisce’s National Spring Clean is inviting people to visit the website www.nationalspringclean.org and register for a free clean-up kit.