WITH this year’s National Spring Clean Campaign well underway, Northsiders are being urged to get involved and help with clean-ups in their neighbourhoods for the remainder of this month.
The campaign has grown from 5,000 participants in year one to 500,000 litter-pickers last year.Following that extraordinary number, 500 tonnes of waste were estimated to have been picked up with 35 per cent ending up being recycled.
Although this is a countrywide initiative, a spokesperson for the campaign is grateful for the large number of Northsiders getting involved.
“We have had a great response from the people of North Dublin and would like to thank them for their participation,” said Sam Moore.
Ireland’s largest anti-litter campaign is organised by An Taisce and funded by the Department of the Environment.
Although it isn’t running in conjunction with the famous Tidy Towns organisation, many of the individuals and communities that participate are also members of Tidy Towns groups. This year saw an early start in order to clean up the country ahead of the Easter 1916 commemorations.
Moore said: “There were a number of early clean-ups that were organised by communities around Ireland prior to the start date of April 1.”
Chairperson of the National Spring Clean Campaign Michael John O’Mahony feels that the initiative gives communities a lot more than just a cleaner environment.
“The National Spring Clean campaign represents Irish community spirit at its best as people come together to give back to the community and their environment,” said Mr O’Mahony.
Sarah McGovern, an ambassador for the campaign, is excited at the reach the group has received over the past 18 years.
“It is inspiring to see the thousands of volunteers and community groups mobilise and reconnect through National Spring Clean to share their love for the environment and where they live,” she said.
National Spring Clean has also launched a competition to promote community tidiness via Instagram. Take beautiful pictures of your area, use the hashtag #LoveWhereYouLive and tag the photo with the group’s handle @nationalspringclean to be in with a chance for a weekend break and dinner for two at Donegal’s five-star Solis Lough Eske Castle.
For more information, visit www.nationalspringclean.org
Brein McGinn