Latest news with #cleanliness
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Naas named Ireland's Best Kept Town in all-island competition
Naas, Co Kildare, has been named Ireland's Best Kept Town, beating competition from Derry, Omagh in Co Tyrone, and Carrigaline in Co Cork in the large urban centre category. Towns and villages across the island were assessed on the level of public cleanliness and facilities, the outward appearance of roads and buildings and the quality of local wildlife. Earlier this week Naas was named the cleanest town in Ireland by the Irish Business Against Litter association, a title it has won three times since 2020. The survey, conducted by An Taisce, made reference to a 'spotless' Naas plaza and 'a much cared for' canal bank. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Ireland's Best Kept Town competition, a cross-Border initiative between the Supervalu TidyTowns competition in the Republic and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council's Best Kept awards. READ MORE Buncrana, Co Donegal, was named the island's best kept large town, beating Rush, Co Dublin and Comber, Co Down. Royal Hillsborough, Co Down, won the small town category ahead of Carlingford, Co Louth; Bagenaldstown, Co Carlow; and Randalstown, Co Antrim. Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, was named the best kept village – Eyeries, Co Cork and Riverstown, Co Sligo were nominees in the category. Winners were announced today at a ceremony in Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park, with Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary saying 'being nominated for these awards is an achievement in itself. It is a recognition of the efforts made by volunteers and local communities'. 'It is a testament to how local volunteers take ownership of their local areas and work to improve them,' he said. Doreen Muskett, chairperson of the Northern Ireland Amenity Council, said 'these competitions continue to demonstrate the great pride that people have in their communities, North and South, and the hard work that is carried out by volunteers'.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Dublin's north inner city and Cork's northside identified as the dirtiest places in Ireland
Cork's northside and Dublin's north inner city have been identified as the State's dirtiest locations in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (Ibal) survey. Cleanliness in the centres of both cities was deemed to have improved since the last survey, with the number of areas considered 'dirty or littered' falling to its lowest number in five years in the ranking of 40 Irish towns and cities. Overall, two-thirds of towns were clean, an improvement on last year. Naas in Co Kildare retains top spot as Ireland's cleanest town, followed by Ennis, Killarney, Leixlip, Monaghan, Sligo, Tullamore, Waterford city and Wicklow, which are all 'cleaner than European norms'. READ MORE But Dublin's north inner city, the dirtiest area in the State last year, has deteriorated even further, Ibal said, and has been joined by Cork's northside, with both deemed 'seriously littered'. Those two locations along with Ballybane, Galway, and Tallaght, Dublin, are the only four areas described as 'seriously littered'. Ibal said conditions in Ballybane and Tallaght had suffered a dramatic deterioration. Scavenging seagulls remain a persistent problem and Ibal spokesman Conor Horgan warned no progress was likely in Dublin's north inner city 'without a ban' on refuse in bags. A ban on the use of plastic bin bags came into force on 90 streets in Dublin's south inner city on January 1st. It is due to be extended to streets in the north inner city by midyear. Mr Horgan said litter was everywhere in north inner city Dublin which was a 'stark contrast to the city centre just a few streets away'. 'In addition, it is high time that appropriate legal changes were brought into effect to allow the council to pursue those responsible for littered basements, an age-old blight on our capital city,' he said. The survey, conducted by An Taisce inspectors for Ibal, found the environs of Dublin Airport , normally clean, to be 'moderately littered'. Following the introduction of the deposit return scheme a year ago, plastic bottle and can litter is down 50 per cent on previous levels, but some was found in 20 per cent of the 500-plus sites surveyed. The prevalence of coffee cups as litter also 'remains stubbornly high', Mr Horgan said, but there was a fall-off in disposable vape litter. Areas like Roscommon town and Mahon in Cork were among towns making the grade as 'clean to European norms' and Ibal said this was very encouraging as they had 'fallen short in recent years'. There were also considerable improvements on Middle Abbey Street, O'Connell Street, North Frederick Street and beside the Jervis Luas stop, sites previously deemed heavily littered. But dumping on Dominic Lane and a littered basement on Parnell Square prevented the capital from attaining 'clean' status, Ibal said.
Independent Singapore
7 days ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
Singapore's clean image under scrutiny: Is the nation getting dirtier?
SINGAPORE: Singapore's reputation as one of the world's cleanest cities is a source of national pride, deeply ingrained in the psyche of both citizens and visitors alike, but in recent years, cracks have begun to show, or at least, that's the sentiment surfacing online and in the streets. A Reddit thread questioning whether Singapore has become noticeably dirtier in recent years quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 600 upvotes. The original post pointed to increasing litter at bus stops, sheltered walkways, and void decks—tissues, plastic packaging, and drink containers. While no one's claiming the city was ever spotless, the concern is clear: Are we slipping? One commenter, with over 400 upvotes, lamented the state of public toilets—particularly in hawker centres and MRT stations—calling them 'filthy' and asking plainly: 'Why?' Another, reflecting on the broader urban landscape, attributed the perceived decline to population pressures. 'The population exploded. Not enough cleaners. Many new citizens also don't share the same views. Even Little India and Chinatown were cleaner a decade ago,' they wrote—a comment that gained 301 upvotes and opened a deeper conversation on cultural integration, civic responsibility, and urban stress. See also 'How to U-turn politely' video gets netizen's respect & approval So, what does the data say? The Singapore Management University (SMU) released its 2023 Public Cleanliness Satisfaction Survey, conducted with 2,010 residents between November 2023 and January 2024, with an updated reflection in 2024. Although the sample size may not represent the entire population of Singapore, it offers a meaningful starting point for analysing sentiments and conditions on the ground. Still, many question why they've never been invited to participate in such surveys, believing their responses could paint a different picture. The key takeaway? 94% of respondents were satisfied with public cleanliness, up 2% from the year prior, but satisfaction doesn't always tell the whole story. Food outlets—long considered problem areas—showed modest but notable improvements: coffeeshops (+4%), hawker centres (+4%), food courts (+2%), and wet markets (+3%). This could suggest that the tray return policy introduced back in 2021 may finally be bearing its fruit, nudging social norms toward greater interpersonal responsibility. Indeed, more Singaporeans than ever before are wiping down tables and cleaning up after themselves, with 81% saying they would voluntarily do so, citing a sense of civic duty. However, here's the paradox: While belief in personal responsibility is growing, littering behaviours are also on the rise. Fewer people reported that they 'never' littered (a decrease from 91% to 87%), and proper disposal rates declined from 76% to 72%. Still dependent on cleaners, but unwilling to pay more Despite higher expectations, with 94% of respondents wanting trash cleared multiple times a day, more than half (55%) were unwilling to pay more for cleaning services. That leaves Singapore in a curious bind: increasing waste, rising expectations, but stagnant investment in cleaning manpower. The cleaner-to-resident ratio hasn't kept pace with the massive surge in population, a point not lost on many online commentators, and in a multicultural, densely packed society, keeping shared spaces clean requires more than just fines and bin placements — it demands shared values. Beyond trash: A symptom of deeper discontent? The question of cleanliness, then, becomes a mirror—not just of our habits, but of the nation's growing pains. Yes, Singapore is undergoing a population boom. Yes, toilets are being upgraded, and yes, the government is rolling out new initiatives. Still, these upgrades can't plaster over the sense of overcrowding, the rising cost of living, and the diminishing breathing room in public spaces. In some ways, the sight of a used tissue by the void deck or a sticky table at the hawker centre isn't just about litter; it's about feeling like we're losing control of our shared environment. If that's the case, perhaps it's not Singapore that's getting dirtier. Perhaps it's the social fabric that's fraying—slowly, quietly, one stray wrapper at a time.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
'Disgusting' loos see pupils trying to skip school - as horrified children say they feel 'like they were stepping into a horror movie'
More than one in ten parents said their children have asked to miss school because the toilets are so disgusting, a survey has suggested. A poll, of 2,000 parents of school-aged children in the UK suggests around one in six (17 per cent) parents rated the toilets at their child's school as unclean. Nearly a third (31 per cent) of families said they have raised concerns about the toilets with school staff, according to a survey for charity Parentkind. One parent told the charity that the toilets were so dirty that their children 'felt like they were stepping into a horror movie', while another parent said their child had seen cockroaches in the school toilets. The Censuswide poll suggests that 11 per cent of parents said their child had missed school, or asked to stay at home, because of worries about the toilets at school. The charity is calling on the Government to prioritise funds to improve 'disgusting' school toilets as part of plans to improve the school estate. It comes after the Chancellor announced around £2.3 billion per year for fixing 'crumbling classrooms' and £2.4 billion per year to rebuild 500 schools. Some surveyed parents suggested their children had wet themselves at school, or suffered constipation, because of avoiding the toilets at their school. Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, called for government funds set out in the spending review to be used to make school toilets 'fit for use'. He said: 'With a million children facing humiliation because of the disgusting state of school toilets, we need to shine a light on the health and well-being of our children who are refusing to drink during the day to avoid going to the toilet and the millions of children suffering constipation because their school toilets are so dirty. 'Parents tell us that we need to set aside the cash to clean and upgrade school loos. 'Parents tell us their children have seen 'cockroaches coming out of the floors' and toilets 'covered in poo and urine'.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'Schools understand the vital importance of toilets being clean and in good order, work hard to ensure this is the case, and will be dismayed at the findings of this research. 'Many schools are struggling with old and outdated buildings which require a great deal of maintenance because of years of government underfunding, and this may play a role in the perceptions reflected by respondents. 'We urgently need improved investment in upgrading and modernising school buildings.'
The Independent
7 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Parents say children are asking to miss school over ‘horror movie' toilets
More than one in three parents say they have been forced to raise concerns about the toilets at their child's school, a new survey has suggested. The poll of 2,000 parents of school-aged children finds that the issues are so widespread that around 10 per cent report that their child has asked to miss school because of their concerns around the facilities. Around one in six (17 per cent) parents rated the toilets at their child's school as unclean, according to the survey for charity Parentkind. One parent reported that their children felt like they were "stepping into a horror movie" when using the toilets, while another mentioned their child had encountered cockroaches in the school facilities. The Censuswide poll also suggests that 11 per cent of parents stated their child had missed school or asked to stay home because of concerns about the toilets. In response to these findings, the charity is urging the Government to prioritise funding for the improvement of what they describe as "disgusting" school toilets, as part of broader plans to enhance the school environment. It comes after the Chancellor announced around £2.3bn per year for fixing 'crumbling classrooms' and £2.4bn per year to rebuild 500 schools. Some surveyed parents suggested their children had wet themselves at school, or suffered constipation, because of avoiding the toilets at their school. Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, called for Government funds set out in the spending review to be used to make school toilets 'fit for use'. He said: 'With a million children facing humiliation because of the disgusting state of school toilets, we need to shine a light on the health and well-being of our children who are refusing to drink during the day to avoid going to the toilet and the millions of children suffering constipation because their school toilets are so dirty. 'Parents tell us that we need to set aside the cash to clean and upgrade school loos. 'Parents tell us their children have seen 'cockroaches coming out of the floors' and toilets 'covered in poo and urine'.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Schools understand the vital importance of toilets being clean and in good order, work hard to ensure this is the case, and will be dismayed at the findings of this research. 'Many schools are struggling with old and outdated buildings which require a great deal of maintenance because of years of government underfunding, and this may play a role in the perceptions reflected by respondents. 'We urgently need improved investment in upgrading and modernising school buildings.'
