The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a rise in litter across the country, a new survey has revealed. The first nationwide study into rubbish on our streets since the coronavirus crisis showed a dramatic fall in the number of towns and cities deemed to be "clean" - now at its lowest level since 2007.
The survey, by the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) group, found PPE litter to be widespread and there was also an increase in the prevalence of cans and glass bottles.
Forty towns and cities were inspected by An Taisce as part of the survey but only a handful improved on last year's findings.
Just 23 towns were deemed to be "clean", a fall of over 20% on last year. While no area was branded a "litter blackspot", North Inner City Dublin was