Pictured at the launch of this year’s National Spring Clean on Bertra Beach, Mayo are Emlyn Cullen, An Taisce, Breda Hyland, Murrisk Development Association, Minister Alan Dillon, Anne Sheeran, Mars Ireland and Frank McCarrick, Murrisk Development Association. Photo credit: John Mee Photo

Communities across Ireland come together to celebrate the launch of the #SpringClean26 

The National Spring Clean encourages communities across Ireland to play their part in tackling Ireland’s litter problem to protect biodiversity and help fight climate change.  

Today marks the official launch of The National Spring Clean 2026!

The 2026 National Spring Clean campaign is shaping up to be the biggest yet with 3,200 volunteer groups registered so far this year. And for those still looking to get involved, registrations will remain open for the remainder of the month, so volunteers can sign up at any time! 

Operated by An Taisce in partnership with the Local Authorities, funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, and sponsored by Mars Ireland, the National Spring Clean is Ireland’s longest running anti-litter campaign, with thousands of volunteers taking part each year. 

Over the past 27 years, the campaign has seen thousands of participants give their time to tackle the problem of litter in their communities, with around 52,000 tonnes of litter removed from local environments around the country to date. In the coming weeks, volunteer groups across Ireland will come together once more to take part in the 2026 National Spring Clean.

Last year, the National Spring Clean saw volunteers take part in over 5,250 clean-up events across the country. An estimated 30% of all litter collected during last year’s campaign was recycled, emphasising the campaign’s commitment to supporting the circular economy. The National Spring Clean continues to highlight the importance of waste reduction as organisers aim to achieve the same success again this year.

Mars Ireland will once again sponsor the campaign, marking 20 years of support as they continue to champion the growth of the National Spring Clean, and other anti-litter campaigns, such as the hugely successful Gum Litter Taskforce, and the popular Green Schools Programme. These longstanding partnerships reflects Mars Ireland’s commitment to promoting sustainability and waste reduction to ensure positive environmental change. 

Minister of State with responsibility for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD said:   

“It’s fantastic to see so many volunteers eager to take part in the National Spring Clean once again this year. Each year, the ongoing success of the National Spring Clean surpasses all expectations. The dedication of those who give their time to make a positive difference in their local communities is truly inspiring. The campaign plays an important role in reminding us all how vital it is to care for our environment, and I look forward to seeing the visible impact of the campaign as it continues throughout the month.”

National Spring Clean Manager, Emlyn Cullen, commented:

“It’s been really encouraging to see the positive impact of the National Spring Clean over the years, particularly as litter levels continue to fall across the country. That said, there’s still work to be done, and overall litter rates remain high. Looking after our environment is as important as ever, and it’s vital we keep the momentum going across our local communities - there’s still time to register, and I urge anyone who is interested to get involved!”

Naomi Jones, Director of Corporate Affairs at Mars Ireland added: “Mars Ireland is proud of our longstanding partnership with the National Spring Clean! At Mars, we remain committed to playing our part in the delivery of a cleaner planet, by supporting important initiatives like the National Spring Clean to help deliver a cleaner, greener future for everyone. Every year the National Spring Clean inspires individuals to come together and make a positive impact on the biodiversity of their local communities, and we are positive that the 2026 campaign will deliver yet another year of record success! Good luck to everyone taking part!”

To make sure that each community clean up can run as smoothly as possible the National Spring Clean has also provided various downloadable information packs on their website for their volunteers to read. The clean-up information pack containing details on how to organise an event, health and safety information, litter facts, useful contacts, media and publicity advice, a guide on how to recycle and information on litter and the law. 

An Taisce’s National Spring Clean is inviting people to visit the website www.nationalspringclean.org and register for a free clean-up kit.  

Follow along with National Spring Clean social media:   

• Facebook: @NationalSpringClean   
• Twitter: @NationalSpringC   
• Instagram: @nationalspringclean   
• YouTube: National Spring Clean

Hashtags to use:

#SpringClean26 #NationalSpringClean 

ABOUT NATIONAL SPRING CLEAN  

Launched in 1999, the National Spring Clean campaign is Ireland’s largest and longest running anti-litter campaign. It is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and sponsored by Mars Ireland. It is supported by Local Authorities who help co-ordinate clean-up activities for communities within their counties and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. Local authorities also provide for the disposal of all rubbish and waste materials collected. 

Over the past 27 years, through the National Spring Clean:    

• Over 125,000 clean-ups have been organised.  
• 52,000 tonnes of litter have been removed.   

 What we can do outside the month of April    

While the National Spring Clean usually runs through the month of April, please remember that personal actions throughout the year are very important too. Here are some choices we can make daily to make a positive change:    

•  Avoid single-use plastic when possible, by choosing more sustainable alternatives, such as reusable bottles and coffee cups, cotton bags, metal straws, etc…    
• Don’t litter and if a bin is overflowing, keep your waste until you find a waste bin to dispose of it properly.    
• Separate your litter into general waste, recyclables and compostables when possible.   
• If you can’t reduce or reuse, recycle; know where and how to recycle all types of waste.    
• Make use of the Deposit Return Scheme.
• Make sure to bin your chewing gum when you’re done to avoid a €150 gum littering fine and keep our streets clean!