Dubs urged to spring into action for campaign

NOW that winter is behind us and there is a stretch in the evenings, Dubliners are being urged to put an extra spring in their step for Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative.

The National Spring Clean campaign is organised by An Taisce and funded by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Wrigley Company.

Each year throughout April, thousands of clean-up events take place across the country with over 500,000 people participating last year.

This year will mark the 16th year of the event and recent campaign statistics show that people really do love where they live:

?¢ Over 5,000 clean-up events took place last year.

?¢ Over 500,000 participants last year

?¢ Approximately 2,000 tonnes of litter was collected in 2013.

?¢ Amount of rubbish collected has increased by 300 per cent since 1998.

?¢ Number of participants has increased by 223 per cent since 1998.

?¢ Number of clean-up events has increased by 194 per cent since 1998.

To celebrate this year’s campaign, An Taisce is also hosting a photo competition on Instagram. Entrants are asked to share images of the most beautiful spots in their local areas tagging National Spring Clean (nationalspringclean) and using the hashtag #LoveWhereYouLive.

The best pictures will be posted to the campaign’s Facebook page and the winner will receive a relaxing break in the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel.

All volunteers registering for the National Spring Clean campaign are issued with a FREE clean up kit which contains important information, posters, colour-coded refuse sacks for segregation of waste materials, protective gloves and tabards to keep participants clean.

To register, call 01-4002219 or visit www.nationalspringclean.org.