It looks like Spring has eventually arrived and communities across Donegal are wasting no time to get ready for the Big Donegal Clean Up.
Hundreds of volunteers will be taking to the highways and byways around the county in the coming weeks to gather litter from along roadsides and clean up illegal dumps in their areas and Donegal County Council is asking everyone to get involved.
“We were delighted to launch this year’s Big Donegal Clean Up this week at the iconic Ballyliffin Golf Club where thousands of visitors are expected in July for the 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
“Volunteers from both Ballyliffin Tidy Towns and Clonmany Tidy Towns came along to help us launch this year’s initiative and it was an honour to meet these people who keep this beautiful part of the county in tip top shape year in and year out,” says Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council.
Last year’s Big Donegal Clean Up was a great success with hundreds of community groups from all over Donegal taking part and Michael McGarvey Director of Service with Donegal County Council believes that this year is shaping up to be another successful year.
“We already have in the region of 100 groups signed up for the An Taisce National Spring Clean campaign and the Donegal Clean-Up so we are confident that we will achieve similar numbers this year.”
“The interest from communities is brilliant and it will all help in making Donegal litter free and allowing us to put our best foot forward for the forthcoming tourist season. We have noticed an increase in the number of businesses coming forward this year to assist with clean-ups in their local areas and this is very positive”.
Cllr McMonagle believes that Donegal’s greatest asset is the beauty of the county’s landscape and natural environment and unfortunately rubbish and litter can be a major blight on the environment and portrays a very negative message for Donegal.
“I have great admiration for all those individuals and groups across Donegal who take it upon themselves to clean up their own areas. Donegal is a large county and unfortunately the Council cannot keep the county litter free on its own. That’s why the work of these individuals and groups is so important and vital to us”.
This campaign sees the Council supporting individuals, groups, businesses and organisations in organising their own clean-ups. The Council provides bags, gloves and litter pickers and arranges for the collection of the rubbish once it has been bagged.
Michael McGarvey says that every year’s there is an increasing number of people taking part in this initiative.
“We are seeing an increase in the number of individuals who are taking it upon themselves to clean up their local area when they are out walking. So we are urging people when they are out walking to bring a bag with them and pick up litter as they find it along their walk. The Council is more than happy to help with gloves, litter pickers and bags and we will also collect the rubbish once it is bagged”.
To sign up for this year’s Big Donegal Clean Up call 074 91 53900 or visit www.donegalcoco.ie . You can also register with An Taisce’s National Spring Clean campaign by calling (01) 4002219 or online at www.nationalspringclean.org.
