Seventeen of 33 monitored beaches, harbours and rivers were classified suitable for clean status, a 50% increase from the previous year. Waterways classified as "littered" dropped from eleven to three, with cigarette butts, sweet papers and fast-food wrappers the most commonly detected litter items. Volunteer Clean Coasts groups and increased council investment in facilities were credited with improving results despite large numbers visiting beaches during warm weather. Sites awarded clean status included Brittas Bay, Curracloe, Bundoran, Killiney, Strandhill and Tramore. Dingle Harbour, Dog's Bay and White Bay were classified as littered. The Deposit Return Scheme coincided with a 30% drop in plastic bottle and can litter and fewer vapes.
"This is by far the most favourable result we have seen in eight years of coastal surveys," Conor Horgan of Ibal said.
"The Trojan and ever-expanding work of Clean Coasts groups and other volunteers is instrumental in this, as is the investment by councils in facilities around our beaches."
"This survey was the first one since the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme - a system which charges consumers a small additional fee on their purchase of plastic bottles and aluminium cans that can be claimed back when the bottle or can is recycled."
"Its benefit manifested in a 30pc drop in plastic bottle and can litter, while vapes were less prevalent than in previous studies."
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