Member's statement: Littering and Fly-tipping
Member's statement by Mr Keith Buchanan on .
- MLA
- Mr Keith Buchanan
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 1 April 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Littering and Fly-tipping
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4876528
Read the official Assembly record
Text
While many important issues are discussed in this place, there is a pressing issue that affects our environment and our communities: littering and fly-tipping. The charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is inspiring people to create a cleaner, greener and more sustainable community. Through behavioural change campaigns and education on local, national and global environmental issues, we are improving the quality of people's lives, the places in which they live and the places that they love. Despite efforts to keep our streets clean, litter remains a significant problem. The most common types of litter include cigarette-related waste, confectionery wrappers, drinks containers and hot food containers. The total average spend on street cleansing in Northern Ireland in 2014-15 was £40 million. At a local level, I try to instil in a group of young people in my community the need to take their rubbish home. I bring them out to do litter picks along the country roads that surround my area. Litter not only mars the beauty of our landscape but poses serious environmental hazards. It can block drains, pollute rivers and eventually end up in the sea, harming marine life. Broken glass and other hazardous waste can cause injuries to people and animals. Cleaning up litter is costly. Councils and volunteers spend significant resources on litter collection and disposal. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 has extended enforcement powers to councils that allow them to take action against businesses and individuals who contribute to littering. I have therefore written to councils to ask how many fines are issued each year and how much is spent on cleaning up litter and fly-tipped waste. Some people, of all ages, seem to disregard totally the place in which they live. Throwing litter out of the car window or on to the street is a disgusting attitude to have. Littering and fly-tipping also affects the quality of life in our communities, making public spaces less enjoyable and safe. Littering and fly-tipping is a problem that requires a collective effort. By taking responsibility and making conscious choices, we can reduce litter and protect our environment. Let us work together to keep Northern Ireland beautiful and to ensure a cleaner, healthier future for all.
370 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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