Supermarkets are Ireland’s litter bugs

Supermarkets in Ireland are failing in their legal responsibility to keep their premises free of litter, recent research discovered.

A survey by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) found the entrances, car parks, and surrounding pavements of supermarkets are scattered with litter in many Irish towns.

These areas were more than twice as likely to be heavily littered compared to other locations.

Tesco was found to be the worst offender, followed by Aldi and Lidl.

Branches of Ireland-based Superquinn were the cleanest in the country.

Under the Litter Act, it is the legal responsibility of supermarkets to keep the areas visible from their property free of litter.

IBAL said local authorities must “get tough” on the offending supermarkets.

“The local authority’s job is not to clean these areas, but to ensure the job is done, by enforcing the law where necessary,” said Dr Tom Cavanagh, IBAL chairman.

“Authorities plead that resources are scarce, but it costs little to send a fine in the post, and the monies collected are retained by those authorities. The benefit in improved cleanliness is immediate.”

The Irish Times said there is “no excuse for highly profitable companies damaging the quality of life in major centres of population”.