By Michael Brennan
AN extra 200 million cigarette butts could be dumped on the streets when the smoking ban begins, according to Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL). Launching its annual anti-litter campaign yesterday, the group said it was inevitable smokers would take their litter outside with them.

"In the US, cigarette butts account for three times as much litter as food wrappers. They are also especially susceptible to running off into our waterways," said chairman Dr Tom Cavanagh.

He points out that if the smoking ban leads to a 10% shift in cigarette smoking from indoors to outdoors, this would mean a potential 200 million annual increase in cigarette butts on our streets.

With the average smoker throwing away up to 25,000 cigarette butts in a lifetime, Dr Cavanagh said local authorities needed to run a specific anti-litter campaign to target them.

"Smokers do not identify cigarette butts with litter, so conventional litter campaigns do not impact on them," he said.

Smokers who throw butts on the ground risk a €125 fine, while pub owners also have a legal duty to keep the area around their premises clean.

IBAL will be monitoring litter levels in 30 towns and cities across the country, as well as in bus stations, train stations and third-level campuses.

It said litter levels had dropped by 22% since its campaign began four years ago, although a quarter of towns remain "heavily littered". Galway, named last year as Ireland's dirtiest city, has the most ground to make up, as has Cork, which was described as a "litter blackspot".

Limerick and Waterford were the cleanest cities while Cavan was named the cleanest town.

This year's survey will be carried out by inspectors from An Táisce. They will visit each town and city three times to check the level of chewing gum, graffiti, flyposting, weeds, common litter and the cleanliness of road signs. Bonus points will be awarded for the general state of road surfaces and the number of litter fines imposed.

Four towns will be included in the survey for the first time Athlone, Dundalk, Maynooth and Castlebar.

IBAL has warned that the entry of the 10 accession states into the European Union in May will place further pressure on Ireland to remain litter-free. Dr Cavanagh said the country needed "First World" levels of cleanliness if hi-tech industry was to continue to come here.

"We need to distinguish ourselves through our know-how and through our standards of cleanliness and professionalism. This is not happening at present."