Posted: July 3 2008

 

Dublin pubs are to be targeted in a new crackdown on litter. Dublin City Council is planning new by-laws to counter the cigarette butt problem on the capital’s streets, significantly contributed to by the ban on smoking in pubs in 2004. DCC’s findings show that cigarette butts now account for 56 per cent of all litter and according to Assistant City Manager Matt Twomey, the new laws aim to prevent and control litter in the vicinity of the businesses that generate it, including pubs and takeaways.

 

"Cigarette litter is a major problem in the vicinity of licensed premises," he said in a report to councillors recently.

Under the new by-laws pubs and takeaways would have to ensure that a 50 metre area around their premises is kept free of litter and stains.

 

They’d also have to monitor the area "at least once during each hourly period during opening hours" and an agreed number of bins would have to be provided together with a roster and checklist system for emptying them. Maintaining them would also have to be agreed with the council.

 

Furthermore, there would have to be written details of the cleaning schedule available for inspection for a month afterwards.