Dawn Meats together with Tirlán/Glanbia Plc, Panda, PRL and the John O’Shea Trust have provided financial support to allow Kilkenny County Council make this initiative possible.  A weekend of action across County Kilkenny, is enabling groups and local communities to litter pick their neighbourhoods over the weekend of the 24th of March. During this weekend, an estimated 5,000 volunteers will be active, removing loose litter from the environment.  It’s an opportunity for neighbours to reconnect and a chance to get out into the fresh air and work as a collective to rid litter throughout the county.

 Paul Nolan from Dawn Meats commented “Through our operations, Dawn Meats is committed to continual improvement of environmental performance and the promotion of sustainability practices are an integral part of our business culture.  Being a sponsor of “Let’s Team Up to Clean Up, Together for Kilkenny” is an ideal opportunity to give back and support our local communities in a practical way. Enabling the provision of litter kits to groups in Kilkenny City and County like Mooncoin Tidy Towns who are local to our plant in Grannagh, is a chance to assist volunteers who give up their own time for the improvement of their local area.  We are delighted to be part of this initiative, and we hope to see it grow in years to come.”

 Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council, Sean McKeown remarked in conversation that “Kilkenny has a national reputation of being a clean environment, and its important economically that we preserve and continue to maintain this high standard.  The accumulation of litter can lower the tone of an area very quickly, and as we value our tourism product in Kilkenny and also to maintain the green image for the agricultural sector, initiatives like “Let’s Team Up to Clean Up, Together for Kilkenny” can bring economic benefits to the county.

 Chairman of Kilkenny Pat Fitzpatrick added “that a litter free environment can also bring positive mental health benefits and the occasion to bring people and play a part of a community initiative also brings social benefits to communities across the county”.

 The initiative hit its 200th registration last week and the registration portal is now closed, as focus and attention turns to accommodate all the registered groups.  Health and safety briefing sessions are underway, these short presentations of 30 minutes allows groups to stay safe as they complete their litter picks and instructions are given regarding the presentation of litter bags for collection by the waste management sponsor Panda.  The CBS secondary transition year students have lent a hand to assemble to primary school kits while the army personnel from Stephens Barracks are preparing the standard litter kit. Kits will be released, as registered groups complete their health and safety training.

Team Up to Clean Up is a great example of Communities coming together and improving for themselves the quality of life for their localities. The initiative is an opportunity to reduce the impact of litter with benefits across tourism, businesses and our economy, mental health and wellbeing, as well as our Environment. Team Up to Clean Up builds on National Spring Clean and the vibrant Tidy Towns movement in Kilkenny and is a wonderful opportunity for us all to play our part to say no to litter.