Litter a lingering issue

Tidy Towns volunteers and County Council behind drive to have Cavan look its best

A stubborn litter problem in Cavan Town continues to demand attention - despite ongoing efforts from both county council workers and an active network of volunteers. Paul Lynch, a long-time member of Cavan Tidy Towns, paints a picture of civic pride and persistent vigilance.

“We’re very fortunate here,” Lynch says. “The playground, the skate parks, the public toilets, the river - everything is brilliant. The council has done a fantastic job. But, when it comes to litter, we all have to play our part.”

And many do. Tidy Towns in Cavan boasts over 100 volunteers, with between four and eight of them out on the streets every day collecting rubbish. “We’re talking about hundreds of black bags a week,” Lynch explains.

“And that’s with the council already emptying public bins every morning, seven days a week.”

Despite the clear workload, Lynch maintains a positive outlook. “We’re not out here complaining,” he says.

“We’re doing it because we care. Business owners, farmers, parents, teachers - we’ve got people from all walks of life out helping. We want to lead by example. The more people help, the easier it gets for everyone.”

The voluntary group doesn't limit itself to litter alone. Tidy Towns wants to focus on other community projects. They have undertaken mammoth work at Annagaliffe Graveyard where they will also be celebrating ‘The Gathering of the Clans’ on August 16.

A week later Green Lough Eco Park will be the venue for their ‘Tidy Towns Appreciation Day’ for all volunteers. Recently, local youth groups even took to painting fences and clearing debris along the riverbanks, highlighting the growing involvement of the younger generation.

But the underlying issue remains: If volunteers are filling hundreds of bags of rubbish every week, then Cavan clearly still has a significant litter problem.

Cavan County Council acknowledges this. While they praise the efforts of community groups like Tidy Towns, they also stress the importance of sustained awareness and long-term strategy.

“The issue of litter is so widespread that voluntary action is not just welcomed, but very necessary,” a council spokesperson said.

“Local authorities work within strict budgets, and the contributions of groups like Tidy Towns are vital.”

The council confirmed that the bins in Cavan Town are emptied every morning, all year round. Its Litter Management Plan 2021–2024, recently extended through 2025, has met its original targets, and a new plan for 2025–2028 is being drafted. Notably, the plan includes both ongoing objectives and new targets aligned with national waste management strategies.

Yet, some numbers raise questions. While both the council and Tidy Towns agree that litter awareness and cleanliness have improved - particularly on main streets - there’s been a notable spike in fines for littering: 42 were issued in 2024, nearly double the annual average over the three previous years. This could suggest more rigorous enforcement, but it might also indicate that the problem, though shifting, hasn’t gone away.

The council attributes the rise in fines to increased enforcement and public vigilance rather than a reversal in progress.

“There is less litter overall, and public awareness is higher,” the spokesperson added. “Campaigns such as the Gum Litter Taskforce, Picker Pals, and the National Spring Clean run throughout the year.”

However, the reality on the ground, as illustrated by the daily volunteer collections, tells a more nuanced story. While there may be fewer “hotspots” or areas with severe dumping, the volume of rubbish still being collected points to a cultural problem that persists in pockets of the community.

Mr Lynch acknowledges this duality. “The litter situation is improving,” he says. “People are more aware now. It’s rare to see someone litter on the main streets - people will actually call them out. When the place looks clean, people respect that. We’ll embarrass you into doing the right thing,” he adds with a chuckle.