Environment
Castlebar Spring Clean 27 April 2009
25, Apr 2009 - 11:35

The National Spring Clean campaign is now in its fourth week and the people of Mayo have been out in force organising a variety of fantastic clean up events in the county. There are another two weeks left of the campaign however and it’s not too late for you to get involved! To register for your free clean up kit contact An Taisce on 01-4002220 or www.nationalspringclean.org. 

27.04.09- There will be a big clean up in Castlebar on Monday April 27 commencing at 7 pm. Those who are taking part include local schools, business community, sports organisations, residents association and the general public. These groups have been invited to carry a clean up in our 'Adopt an Area Programme' i.e. the various groups will clean up their immediate area with the litter being delivered to designated areas. As well as these designated areas, the volunteers hope to do a clean up on the town bypass with RV point at Cathal Duffy's garage and also in the areas of Lough Lannagh and the Peace Park with RV at the car park Lough Lannagh. There is approx fifty volunteers committed to the clean up.

30.04.09- St. Joseph's National School, Killala will hold a general clean up with adults and children starting at school working through town from 4.30pm-6.30pm on the 30^th of April and they are expecting over 50 volunteers.

The National Spring Clean campaign is organised by An Taisce and funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and local government. The initiative is sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland and the Wrigley Company. It is also supported by Repak who supply colour coded refuse sacks for recycling the materials collected and Killeen who sponsor the general waste sacks.  The campaign is backed by all Local Authorities who co-ordinate activity in their communities.

All those registering for the National Spring Clean campaign are issued with a FREE clean up kit which contains information, posters, and colour coded refuse sacks for segregation of waste materials, protective gloves and tabards to keep participants clean.  An Taisce will also liaise with local authorities to ensure that all materials collected will be picked up without charge.

In the past few weeks the following areas were also involved in the national springclean campaign:

18.04.09- Cheathru Thaidh, Primary School in Ballina has organized their National Spring Clean event for the 18^th of April. The children from second class upwards, along with teachers and parents will collect rubbish from the different small villages around the Ceathru Thaidhg area. Since they are a Gaelscoil they will be conversing “As Gaeilge” while collecting the rubbish and tidying up their town

19.04.09- Litter has become a major problem in the Ballyheane area so in conjunction with An Taisce the members of Ballyheane Community Council are organising a clean up of both Ballyheane village and its surrounding areas.  The volunteers will congregate at the Community Centre at 2.30p.m and collect the necessary supplies and be assigned to a particular stretch of road.  They will then re-assemble again at 5.00p.m. for refreshments in the centre.  The members of the residents committee are doing so much to re-create a sense of community for Ballyheane and the clean-up is just one of those projects.  They would especially like to welcome all new members of the community as participating in the clean-up will also be an opportunity to come and see their fabulous community centre and all that is happening there.  The clean up is both for Ballyheane and areas within a 2/3 mile radius of the village.

23.04.09- The Erris No Name Club in Belmullet, Mayo have organised their National Spring Clean event for the 23^rd of April. It is a community group and all the members are teenagers and are developing a gum strategy to prevent chewing gum being stuck on everything.