Ballybeg labelled ‘excellent’ in annual litter report

The 2024 Irish Business Against Litter survey has paid high praise to Ballybeg, saying that the area has seen vast improvement in terms of presentation.

Ballybeg ranked twelfth out of 40 towns and cities, which were surveyed nationwide, and was rated ‘Cleaner than European Norms’.

The report said: “An excellent result for Ballybeg, even the Ballybeg Stores and Environs site got the top litter grade this time around.” 

Regarding Ballybeg stores and its general environs, the report said: “This is probably the first time in a long number of years that this site was deserving of the top litter grade. The quantities that had existed at the far end/adjacent to Ballybeg Pizza were no longer an issue."

The Brill Family Resource Centre was noted for its colourful, eye-catching and welcoming appearance, whilst St Saviour's GAA club had a complete absence of litter across its entire facility, with users of the grounds and those responsible for its upkeep congratulated.

The document also noted that Ardmore Terrace, which in previous IBAL surveys had suffered from varying degrees of littering and dumping, has seen great improvement. 

By far the most heavily littered site was the Ballybeg Bring Centre at Tesco.

Meanwhile, Waterford City ranked sixteenth out of the 40 towns and cities surveyed.

The report said: “Waterford City was surveyed in December and the city centre was full of ‘Waterford Winterval European City of Christmas 2024’ displays/ signage throughout. While Vulcan Street was heavily littered, some heavily littered sites in previous IBAL surveys have improved."

The city was commended for its creative use of QR codes along the riverwalk and on wooden sculptures. The miscellaneous site beside Vee Car Park was not quite as heavily littered as previous years but still had a litter presence.