Banner image: Cork Road Kingsmeadow Resident Association, Waterford

---

National Spring Clean 2026 Wraps, Following Nationwide Community Anti-Litter Effort

A total of 5,358 groups joined the National Spring Clean 2026 campaign, removing 2,705 tonnes of rubbish from their local communities.

28 May 2026: An Taisce’s National Spring Clean campaign has successfully concluded for 2026, marking another impactful year of community-led action against litter across Ireland.

This year, thousands of volunteers dedicated their time throughout April, with many groups completing the Spring Clean as part of their annual tradition in tackling Ireland’s litter problem.

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.

In its 27^th year, participation in the campaign was stronger than ever, with 5,358 groups taking part. This made for a hugely successful spring clean as communities came together across the country to clean up their local environments. This year, a total of 2,705 tonnes of litter was collected during the month of April (an increase of 5 tonnes on last year), 30% of which was recycled. 

Each year countless volunteers take part in National Spring Clean, heading out to clean their local communities, no matter the weather! In total, just under 55,000 tonnes of litter has been removed from Ireland's urban areas, coastlines and countryside, since the National Spring clean began. This collective effort has a huge impact, improving local areas and protecting biodiversity so that everyone can feel the benefits of a litter-free environment. 

The National Spring Clean has inspired several community groups in towns and villages across the country to organise their own regular clean-up events, motivating them to keep up these positive behaviours throughout the year. Now that the 2026 National Spring Clean has come to an end, An Taisce encourages the public to do the same, working to influence positive litter behaviour year-round!

This year, Mars Ireland once again sponsored the campaign, continuing to champion the growth of the National Spring Clean. Mars Ireland’s commitment to creating a greener Ireland is reflected in its support of other anti-litter campaigns, including the hugely successful Gum Litter Taskforce, and the popular Green Schools Programme.

Minister of State in the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment Alan Dillon TD, commended the participants:

“The continued dedication shown by volunteers during this year’s National Spring Clean is truly inspiring. The strong community spirit seen across the country is a reminder of the positive difference that can be made when people come together to support their local communities. This collective effort is crucial in maintaining a cleaner, greener Ireland for everyone. Initiatives like this mean we can take pride in our local environments and foster greater appreciation for our biodiversity across communities nationwide.”

National Spring Clean Manager, Emlyn Cullen, reflected on the campaign's success:

“We are hugely grateful to each and every volunteer who participated in the 2026 National Spring Clean, and to our return volunteers, who continue to give their time to the campaign. The impact of your efforts can be seen across your local environments and have an impact on every single member of your communities. While this Year’s National Spring Clean has come to an end, we encourage everyone to continue these positive habits year-round.”

Naomi Jones, Director of Corporate Affairs at Mars Ireland added:

“Mars Ireland is proud to support another successful National Spring Clean campaign. As always, we are delighted to contribute to such a positive initiative, and champion all of the amazing volunteers who show up year on year. We remain committed to supporting initiatives like this that contribute to a cleaner planet and a greener future.”

An Taisce provided extensive resources, including free clean-up kits and downloadable information packs covering event organisation, health and safety, recycling guidance, and litter facts, ensuring volunteers were well-equipped for their clean-ups.

An Taisce encourages the public to maintain momentum by avoiding single-use plastics, disposing of waste responsibly (including gum), utilising the Deposit Return Scheme, and practising proper waste separation throughout the year, as Ireland continues to move towards a more circular economy.

Here are some top tips to help keep your community clean and reduce your waste output:

• 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 way to dispose of it properly
• Separate your litter into general waste, recyclables and compostables when possible.
• 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!

 For more information about the National Spring Clean and ongoing anti-litter efforts, please visit www.nationalspringclean.org.

ABOUT NATIONAL SPRING CLEAN
Launched in 1999, the National Spring Clean campaign Ireland is largest and longest running anti-litter campaign. It is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and sponsored by the Mars Wrigley Company. It is supported by Local Authorities who help co-ordinate clean-up activities for communities within their counties and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. 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.
• 55,00 tonnes of litter have been removed.