Spring (clean) into action
Communities across Cork are being encouraged to register for Ireland’s largest and longest anti-litter campaign.
It’s the National Spring Clean 2022 and is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in partnership with local authorities and supported by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Mars Wrigley Ireland.
The National Spring Clean traditionally takes part in the month of April. For the past 23 years, 85,000 clean-ups have been organised with volunteers dedicating a total of 12 million hours to remove around 42,000 tonnes of litter across the country.
National Spring Clean 2021 was the biggest and the longest campaign so far, taking place between March and August, and despite the situation and restrictions at the start of the year, 5,543 groups registered to carry out clean-ups throughout the country and collected an estimated 3,000 tonnes of litter around Ireland.
In 2021 over 6,500 Cork volunteers participated in organised clean-ups to show their support to the National Spring Clean.
This year, building on the success of previous years, the hope is to make the National Spring Clean campaign the biggest yet.
The National Spring Clean is also an opportunity for volunteers to take local actions to make a change at a global scale.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan said: “An Taisce’s National Spring Clean is a real testament to the work of volunteers all over the country. These volunteers continue to organise local clean-ups every year. The past two years have proven difficult because of the necessary Covid restrictions, but this year represents a real opportunity for people to get together and help clean up our countryside.
“I would urge people to get involved and I would like to acknowledge the key role played by An Taisce in overseeing the campaign. My department will continue to provide support to the campaign and I look forward to the many events that will be held.”
National Spring Clean, Chairperson, Michael John O’Mahony, said: “We have all been through some unprecedented times over the last two years. We all became more aware than ever before of our local areas. Participants continued to undertake great work for National Spring Clean in family bubbles or as individuals during these times. However, we can now look forward to working together again as larger groups and communities and celebrate the success together.”
The National Spring Clean programme is inviting people to visit nationalspringclean.org to request a free clean up kit.