A series of recent changes to how Dublin City is cleaned and managed are being credited with a marked improvement in litter levels across the city centre and the North Inner City, according to the latest Irish Business Against Litter survey.
Dublin City Council has welcomed the findings, which describe the overall result for the capital as “much improved” and point to a range of new operational and enforcement measures that are beginning to show results on the ground.
Among the initiatives highlighted are an enhanced cleaning regime, the installation of waste compactor bins for some city centre businesses, and the removal of the plastic bag derogation from a growing number of streets in the city centre.
The survey notes that these measures are “likely to have contributed to the much improved result” recorded in 2025.
The report gives particularly strong ratings to the city’s main shopping streets, with Grafton Street, O’Connell Street, Henry Street and Capel Street all described as “very much deserving of the top litter grade”.
The pedestrianisation of Capel Street was singled out as having helped create a calmer and cleaner city centre environment.
Public parks also scored highly, with Croppies Acre Memorial Park, the Garden of Remembrance and St Stephen’s Green all deemed deserving of the top litter grade.
However, the survey also identified continuing problem areas.
A site on Parnell Square was recorded as the sole litter blackspot, while Green Street Court House was among a number of heavily littered locations, with rubbish noted both within the grounds and on the pavement directly outside.
Little Green Street was highlighted as being more than casually littered, with bags of rubbish dumped and their contents strewn across the area.
Dublin City Council said it was pleased with the overall results, stating that they clearly show its new three pillar waste strategy is working, while also acknowledging that further effort is required, particularly in parts of the North Inner City.
The three pillar strategy focuses on operational enhancements, enforcement and regulation change, and a litter awareness and prevention advertising campaign.
Over the past year, the Council has recruited 100 additional waste management staff and invested in new vehicles to tackle litter.
Cleaning zones operating on a 24 hour basis have been expanded, and the ability to present waste in plastic bags has been removed from 90 streets.
To support the removal of plastic bags, waste compactors have been installed in two city centre locations.
Street washing capacity has also been increased, with a dedicated night time street washing team, a specialised wash vehicle allocated per area, and a city wide rapid response team now in operation.
Enforcement has been stepped up through the appointment of six new litter wardens, including a night patrol service, alongside the introduction of a new litter prevention and awareness campaign.
Derek Kelly, Executive Manager for Environment and Transportation at Dublin City Council, said the results were encouraging but cautioned against direct comparisons with other areas.
“Overall this is a good result for us and we are obviously pleased with the outcome of this latest IBAL survey, notwithstanding the fact that we still have work to do in the city,” he said.
“Our staff have been working very hard on our new waste strategy and it’s great to see their efforts are clearly having the desired effect.
“However, I would also like to point out that the IBAL survey doesn’t compare like with like.
“It’s simply unfair to imagine that you can compare a capital city like Dublin which has a population of half a million people and gets millions of visitors each year, to regional cities and towns across the country.”
Dublin City Councillor for the North Inner City Nial Ring also welcomed the findings, saying they reflect changes residents and workers in the area have been witnessing for some time.
“This IBAL survey confirms what many of us living and working in the North Inner City have seen, our streets are getting cleaner,” he said.
“For too long, our area was rock bottom of the litter league.
“I personally remember when IBAL called the North Inner City a litter blackspot and described our streets as being in a terrible state with long term neglect.
“Being at the foot of the rankings year after year had a deeply negative impact on the local community.
“It certainly did not reflect the pride we have in our area and it was disheartening for residents to see their area portrayed in that negative way.”
He said the latest report, which finally uses terms such as “much improved”, shows that the investment in staff and cleaning technology is beginning to change that reputation.
“We have gone from being the worst in the country to a community on the rise,” he said.
“We aren’t at the finish line yet, but it is encouraging that the DCC litter strategy is beginning to work and show positive results in the city centre in particular.”
Cllr Ring added that the improved ratings for streets such as O’Connell Street, Henry Street and Capel Street were especially positive for the North Inner City and said he would continue to push for sustained investment to ensure cleaner streets become a lasting source of pride for local residents.